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59 Am. Crim. L. Rev. 95 (2022)
The Solution to the Pervasive Bias and Discrimination in the Criminal Justice System: Transparent and Fair Artificial Intelligence

handle is hein.journals/amcrimlr59 and id is 100 raw text is: THE SOLUTION TO THE PERVASIVE BIAS AND
DISCRIMINATION IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM:
TRANSPARENT AND FAIR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Mirko Bagaric*, Jennifer Svilar**, Melissa Bull***, Dan Hunter****, and
Nigel Stobbs*****
ABSTRACT
Algorithms are increasingly used in the criminal justice system for a range of
important matters, including determining the sentence that should be imposed on
offenders; whether offenders should be released early from prison; and the loca-
tions where police should patrol. The use of algorithms in this domain has been
severely criticized on a number of grounds, including that they are inaccurate
and discriminate against minority groups. Algorithms are used widely in relation
to many other social endeavors, including flying planes and assessing eligibility
for loans and insurance. In fact, most people regularly use algorithms in their
day-to-day lives. Google Maps is an algorithm, as are Siri, weather forecasts,
and automatic pilots. The criminal justice system is one of the few human activ-
ities which has not substantially embraced the use of algorithms. This Article
explains why the criticisms that have been leveled against the use of algorithms
in the criminal justice domain are flawed. The manner in which algorithms oper-
ate is generally misunderstood. Algorithms are not autonomous machine applica-
tions or processes. Instead, they are developed and programmed by people and
their efficacy is determined by the quality of the design process. Intelligently
designed algorithms can replicate human cognitive processing, but they have a
number of advantages, including the speed at which they process information.
Also, because they do not have feelings, they are more objective and predictable
than people in their decision-making. They are a core component of overcoming
the pervasive bias and discrimination that exists in the criminal justice system.
INTRODUCTION  ............................................           96
I. CURRENT PROBLEMS WITH HUMAN-DECISION MAKING IN THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
II. THE NATURE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
* Dean of Law, Swinburne Law School, Melbourne. ( 2021, Mirko Bagaric, Jennifer Svilar, Melissa Bull,
Dan Hunter, and Nigel Stobbs.
** J.D., University of Tennessee College of Law. Jennifer is an attorney in the Commercial Litigation Group
at Butler Snow LLP.
*** Professor, Law School, Queensland University of Technology Law School.
**** Dean, Faculty of Law, Queensland University of Technology.
***** Senior Lecturer, Law School, Queensland University of Technology.

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