{"id":29114,"date":"2025-09-05T17:18:54","date_gmt":"2025-09-05T17:18:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=29114"},"modified":"2025-09-05T17:19:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T17:19:10","slug":"can-ai-uphold-fairness-in-the-criminal-justice-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/can-ai-uphold-fairness-in-the-criminal-justice-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Can AI Uphold Fairness in the Criminal Justice System?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">Experts propose guidelines for the responsible use of AI in criminal justice, emphasizing transparency and fairness to ensure constitutional rights are protected.\u00a0<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b0ffac9c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In an age where artificial intelligence is permeating daily life, its encroachment into the criminal justice system prompts a challenging question: Can AI uphold fairness in critical, life-altering decisions?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AI is increasingly involved in tasks traditionally handled by judges and parole boards, such as predicting crime, analyzing DNA and recommending prison sentences. While AI systems have the potential to improve efficiency and objectivity, the stakes are high, raising pressing questions about fairness, transparency and accountability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In April 2024, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) issued a public\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2024\/04\/25\/2024-08818\/request-for-input-from-the-public-on-section-71b-of-executive-order-14110-safe-secure-and\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">request for information<\/a> to guide future use of AI in justice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Computing Research Association convened a team of experts from academia and industry to respond, including Cris Moore, a professor at Sante Fe Institute, and Stephanie Forrest, a professor of computer science at Arizona State University. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Their principal argument centers on transparency, especially when constitutional rights are at risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe idea that an opaque system \u2014 which neither defendants, nor their attorneys, nor their judges understand \u2014 could play a role in major decisions about a person\u2019s liberty is repugnant to our individualized justice system,\u201d the authors pointed out. \u201cAn opaque system is an accuser the defendant cannot face; a witness they cannot cross-examine, presenting evidence they cannot contest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite initial concerns about reducing the utility of AI with increased transparency, advancements in explainable AI offer promising solutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The researchers have developed methods to demystify AI processes, allowing better understanding while retaining usefulness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The recommendations submitted to the NIJ in May 2024 cover several key areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Transparency of Data and Process: Every stakeholder, whether using AI or affected by its recommendations, should understand the data and the reasoning behind AI-driven decisions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Specificity in Output: AI recommendations should be quantitative, offering clear probabilities rather than qualitative labels, which can be easily misinterpreted.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Never Replacing Human Judgment: AI should not supplant human decision-making, especially where constitutional rights and detention are concerned. Instead, AI might serve as a digital consultant to assist judges.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf the judge understands what the system\u2019s output means, including what kinds of mistakes they can make, then I think they can be useful tools,\u201d Moore added. \u201cNot as replacements for judges, but to provide an average or baseline recommendation.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><p style=\"white-space: normal;\">The team followed up with a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/cacm.acm.org\/opinion\/concerning-the-responsible-use-of-ai-in-the-u-s-criminal-justice-system\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">detailed opinion<\/a>\u00a0in the August issue of the Communications of the ACM, commenting on Executive Order 13859, which calls for the safe and trustworthy testing of AI while protecting civil liberties and American values.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><p style=\"white-space: normal;\">In this context, Moore underscores the critical balance AI must achieve: improving fairness and transparency without overwhelming the judicial process.\u00a0<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;We should use AI if it makes the judicial system more transparent and accountable. If it doesn\u2019t, we shouldn\u2019t use it,\u201d Moore said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moore compares the transparency needed in AI to systems like the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). While the FCRA requires disclosure of data used in credit decisions, it doesn\u2019t compel companies to reveal the exact processes, merely the data. An analogous approach in justice could balance transparency with practicality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In conclusion, the responsible use of AI in the criminal justice system lies in its ability to enhance, not obscure, the fairness and transparency of proceedings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As Moore eloquently put it, &#8220;[W]e should always be prepared to explain an AI\u2019s recommendation and to question how it was produced.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:22px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"September 2025 CACM: Concerning the Responsible Use of AI in the U.S. Criminal Justice System\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nZjitXAWGR8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:19px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.santafe.edu\/news-center\/news\/can-courts-safeguard-fairness-in-an-ai-age\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Sante Fe Institute<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In an age where artificial intelligence is permeating daily life, its encroachment into the criminal justice system prompts a challenging question: Can AI uphold fairness in critical, life-altering decisions? AI is increasingly involved in tasks traditionally handled by judges and parole boards, such as predicting crime, analyzing DNA and recommending prison sentences. While AI systems [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[196,448],"class_list":["post-29114","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ai","tag-arizona-state-university","tag-sante-fe-institute"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"In an age where artificial intelligence is permeating daily life, its encroachment into the criminal justice system prompts a challenging question: Can AI uphold fairness in critical, life-altering decisions? AI is increasingly involved in tasks traditionally handled by judges and parole boards, such as predicting crime, analyzing DNA and recommending prison sentences. While AI systems&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29114","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29114"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29114\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29134,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29114\/revisions\/29134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29114"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29114"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29114"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}