1. Julia Angwin ProPublica
Justice Codes
Julia Angwin
ProPublica

2. Algorithms in Our Lives

3. An Algorithm that Predicts Risk of Recidivism

4. COMPAS is used
at sentencing in
Wisconsin
California
New York

5. Although these measures were crafted with the best of intentions, I am concerned that they inadvertently undermine our efforts to ensure individualized and equal justice …. they may exacerbate unwarranted and unjust disparities that are already far too common in our criminal justice system and in our society.”
Attorney General Eric Holder, 2014

9. Broward County, Florida
FOIA filed:
April
Data received:
Sept 22, 2015

10. A First Look at the Data

11. Researching Criminal History
Six Months:
Researching Criminal History

12. prior crimes, future recidivism, age, and gender, black defendants
When controlling for
prior crimes, future recidivism, age, and gender,
black defendants
were 45 percent more likely
to be assigned higher risk scores than white defendants.

13. False Positives & False Negatives

14. Two Similar Arrests

15. Is it Accurate? Is it Fair?

16. But … The Algorithm is Equally Predictive for Blacks & Whites

17. And equally incorrect for predictions of Violent Recidivism

18. Paul Zilly stole a push lawnmower.
The judge doubled his sentence after seeing his
high risk score for violent recidivism.

19. Wisconsin Supreme Court: Warning Labels Needed for Risk Scores

22. Independent Testing
Examine Outcomes
Not Formulas
Due Process

23. Thank You @juliaangwin
Thank You
@juliaangwin