Machine Bias In Criminal Cases

In 20014 Attorney General Eric Holder requested that the U.S. Sentencing Commission study the use of algorithms “Although these measures were crafted with the best intentions, I am concerned that they inadvertently undermine our efforts to ensure individualized and equal justice” he also felt that “they may exacerbate unwarranted and unjust disparities that are already far too common in our criminal justice system and in our society”.
The Sentencing Commission did not do a study however, ProPublica issued an article called Machine Bias in May 2016. They compare the risk assessment of individual arrested with the same crime but of different races. ProPublica compared two burglary cases. Brisha Borden an 18 year-old black female to that of Vernon Prater a 41 year-old white male;
Borden had misdemeanors charges when she was a juvenile. Prater had been convicted of armed robbery and attempted armed robbery for which he served 5 years in prison; in addition to another armed robbery charge. However, Borden was rated high risk with a score of 8, while Prater was rated a low risk with a score of 3. Consequently, 2 years later Borden committed no other offense and Prated is serving an 8-year prison sentencing for breaking into a warehouse and stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of electronics. The study of Dylan Fugett (white) and Bernard Parker (black) both arrested for drug possession. Fugett risk score was a 3 despite being arrested for cocaine and marijuana possession. Parker was rated high risk with a score of 10. Fugett has since been arrested three more times for drug possession. Compare two DUI arrests of Gregory Lugo (white) and Mallory Williams (black) despite this being Lugo fourth DUI and the fact that he crashed into another car while drunk he was rated low risk