Courts use a ‘Minority Report’ crime prediction algorithm, and it’s incredibly racist

$%name Courts use a ‘Minority Report’ crime prediction algorithm, and it’s incredibly racist by Authcom, Nova Scotia\s Internet and Computing Solutions Provider in Kentville, Annapolis Valley$

I was somewhat surprised to learn that courts use software to predict the likelihood of criminals reoffending. But I was far less surprised to learn that the computer, much like the system it serves, seems to hate black people.

ProPublica has a new report that shines a light on the system used by Broward County, Florida. Those courts use a system made by Northpointe, a for-profit company. Various factors are inputted into an algorithm, which spits out a score that reflects an offender’s chance of re-offending within two years.

(more…)