PASSAGE OF THE DAY: "An extensive review of post-conviction risk assessments of federal convicts found “no evidence of predictive bias by race,” Skeem said. Virginia, one of the first states to use risk assessment extensively, has been able to divert 25 percent of prison-bound low-risk bound offenders away from serving time behind bars, without experiencing an increase in crime, Skeem told the conference. She emphasized that properly used, risk assessments do not determine a convict’s sentence or a defendant’s potential release, but merely provide guidance to courts."
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STORY: "‘No Evidence’ of Race Bias in Risk Assessment," by psychologist Ted Gest, published by The Crime Report. (Ted Gest is president of criminal justice journalists and Washington bureau chief of The Crime Report.)
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I have presented a mountain of posts contending that risk assessment can increase racial bias in a justice system that already is stacked against minorities.Time to present another point of view. Thanks to The Crime Report for its consistently intelligent reporting.
Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Report.
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GIST: "The sometimes-controversial use of risk assessments to advise
judges on sentences and pretrial release decisions was defended Monday
by a psychologist who has studied the practice.
Risk assessments “can increase consistency, transparency and accuracy” of judicial decisions, Jennifer Skeem, associate dean of research and associate professor of social welfare and public policy at the University of California, Berkeley, said in a major address to the National Forum on Criminal Justice. Skeem spoke at the opening session of the annual forum, held this year in Crystal City, Va., and sponsored by the National Criminal Justice Association and the International Community Corrections Association. In the risk assessment process, the backgrounds of convicted and accused persons are analyzed with the idea of predicting their likelihood of committing a crime. Skeem acknowledged that the practice has come under criticism, including by former Attorney General Eric Holder and the ProPublica website, in a story headlined “Machine Bias.” Holder and others have argued that including defendants’ criminal records in the risk assessment analysis can increase racial bias in a justice system that already is stacked against minorities. Skeem contended that research has shown that risk assessment offers better predictions than does the “unaided judgment” of courts. An extensive review of post-conviction risk assessments of federal convicts found “no evidence of predictive bias by race,” Skeem said. Virginia, one of the first states to use risk assessment extensively, has been able to divert 25 percent of prison-bound low-risk bound offenders away from serving time behind bars, without experiencing an increase in crime, Skeem told the conference. She emphasized that properly used, risk assessments do not determine a convict’s sentence or a defendant’s potential release, but merely provide guidance to courts. So far, the research shows that risk assessments are a “promising tool” for public safety, to reduce mass incarceration, recidivism, and sentencing disparities, Skeem contended. Skeem delivered the annual Edwin I. Megargee Honorary Lecture sponsored by the community corrections organization co-sponsoring the conference."
The entire commentary can be read at:
Risk assessments “can increase consistency, transparency and accuracy” of judicial decisions, Jennifer Skeem, associate dean of research and associate professor of social welfare and public policy at the University of California, Berkeley, said in a major address to the National Forum on Criminal Justice. Skeem spoke at the opening session of the annual forum, held this year in Crystal City, Va., and sponsored by the National Criminal Justice Association and the International Community Corrections Association. In the risk assessment process, the backgrounds of convicted and accused persons are analyzed with the idea of predicting their likelihood of committing a crime. Skeem acknowledged that the practice has come under criticism, including by former Attorney General Eric Holder and the ProPublica website, in a story headlined “Machine Bias.” Holder and others have argued that including defendants’ criminal records in the risk assessment analysis can increase racial bias in a justice system that already is stacked against minorities. Skeem contended that research has shown that risk assessment offers better predictions than does the “unaided judgment” of courts. An extensive review of post-conviction risk assessments of federal convicts found “no evidence of predictive bias by race,” Skeem said. Virginia, one of the first states to use risk assessment extensively, has been able to divert 25 percent of prison-bound low-risk bound offenders away from serving time behind bars, without experiencing an increase in crime, Skeem told the conference. She emphasized that properly used, risk assessments do not determine a convict’s sentence or a defendant’s potential release, but merely provide guidance to courts. So far, the research shows that risk assessments are a “promising tool” for public safety, to reduce mass incarceration, recidivism, and sentencing disparities, Skeem contended. Skeem delivered the annual Edwin I. Megargee Honorary Lecture sponsored by the community corrections organization co-sponsoring the conference."
The entire commentary can be read at:
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith. Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at: http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com. Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog;
