Criminal justice is a discipline in which artificial intelligence is quickly becoming indispensable. Although some groups claim that there are ethical issues regarding the usage of AI in criminal justice, it cannot be denied that AI can perform tasks much more rapidly, more efficiently and more cost-effectively than humans could do. It is expected that the proliferation of AI into the criminal justice industry will continue, creating more job opportunities within that realm.
What Are the Arguments Against Using AI in Criminal Justice?
Members of the International Bar Association have voiced concerns over the usage of AI in criminal justice. They cite the risks of bias and discrimination as one major drawback. Although you might think that an artificial intelligence could display neither discrimination nor bias, the fact that AI are programmed by humans, they say, implies that this could easily occur. Datasets in AI algorithms come from human data, reflecting human bias, which are then transferred to the results that are generated from AI.
According to independent research, AI’s usage in criminal justice can result in certain groups of people being stopped and searched by law enforcement more frequently than others – a phenomenon known as ethnic profiling. If AI is used to surveil areas that are known to be hotbeds of criminal activity, it can result in geographic discrimination, as those areas will be patrolled at higher rates than other areas, resulting in a greater number of arrests when compared to other areas.
It is widely recognized that there is a need for regulation of AI in many global industries, including the criminal justice industry. The European Commission proposed the Artificial Intelligence Act in 2021 to do just that. This act would require that AI be “legally, ethically and technically robust, while respecting democratic values, human rights and the rule of law.” The act proffers a product safety framework that would mark AI products as minimal risk, limited risk, high risk, and unacceptable risk. This would also apply to machine learning training, testing and validation of datasets involved in the legal and criminal justice industry.
As Idder and Coulaux note in their article, “…like any immature technology, it [AI] needs time and mistakes to progress. Until then, an international consensus is needed to guarantee fundamental rights and principles, especially those of fair trial, and to ensure the privacy of citizens around the world, through code ethics, based on transparency and accountability.”
Using Artificial Intelligence in Evidence Analysis
AI has transformed the way forensic evidence is being processed, analyzed, and submitted within criminal investigations. Evidence analysis in criminal investigations has been greatly enhanced by AI. Machine learning algorithms can go through mountains of digital evidence to find patterns, disruptions, and relevant information much more quickly than humans are able to do. AI can swiftly identify and compare DNA samples, fingerprints, and other forensic evidence, eliminating the possibility of human error and accelerating the entire investigation process. Criminal justice cases are thereby built on a stronger foundation, improving the delivery of justice.
Using Artificial Intelligence in Crime Prevention
As mentioned above, predictive policing algorithms and advanced surveillance systems are just two of the many ways AI is being used in crime prevention. Huge amounts of data can quickly be analyzed through AI, which can then identify patterns and assign law enforcement resources in the most effective manner. AI-powered surveillance systems can monitor environments in real-time and immediately identify suspicious activities. Surveillance cameras using AI-powered facial recognition technology and advanced video analytics can pick up on aberrations in behavior, identify persons of interest, and send an alert to law enforcement much more quickly than could be done by humans. All of this helps to prevent various crimes, providing law enforcement with early warnings and giving them the ability to respond more quickly.
Additionally, AI algorithms can be used to monitor and analyze social media to identify potential threats and criminal activities. Law enforcement can be notified as soon as AI discovers illegal activities, hate speech, and threats within social media messages, comments, and posts.
Using Artificial Intelligence in Sentencing and Risk Assessment
In recent years, AI has been integrated into the sentencing and risk assessment processes of the criminal justice system. Machine learning algorithms can help judges to determine appropriate sentences for criminals and to evaluate the probability that they will reoffend. These algorithms can analyze offense severity, prior criminal history and demographic information and generate sentencing recommendations. This can improve the consistency of sentencing and reduce human bias, as the algorithms consider a wider range of data points, standardizing the sentencing process. Machine learning algorithms are also being used to identify patterns and risk factors related to recidivism, determining if a criminal is best suited to parole, probation, or release.
Using Artificial Intelligence in the Legal Business
Another aspect of the criminal justice industry in which AI is becoming indispensable is the legal business. Law firms are using AI to help with research, as it can analyze a huge number of legal texts much more quickly than humans could ever accomplish. AI algorithms can assist in the discovery process, analyzing and organizing electronic and digital evidence much more rapidly. Businesses are also using AI to analyze contracts more efficiently, helping in the review and extraction of clauses that are the most important, reducing human effort and enhancing efficiency.
AI Jobs in the Criminal Justice Industry
Artificial intelligence jobs within the criminal justice industry might not seem apparent as you scan the classified ads, until you delve deeper into the job descriptions. A few that have been posted as of October 2023 include:
- Integration Engineer, Bronx District Attorney, Bronx, NY: $115,000 to $130,000 yearly
- Construction Surveillance Technician, Cencore LLC, Warrenton, VA: $140,000 yearly
- Financial Crime Investigator, Community Federal Savings Bank, New York, NY: $75,000 to $115,000 yearly
- Legal Engineer, Contracts, Doc Juris, Remote: $77,400 to $98,100 yearly
- Product Designer, AI for Legal, Foothill Ventures, Seattle, WA: salary not specified
- Legal Knowledge Engineer, Agiloft, Remote: $100,000 to $150,000 yearly
- Technical Project Manager, Legal Tech, Bellevue, WA: salary not specified
- eDiscovery Technology Analyst, Cognicion, Remote: $60,000 to $80,000 yearly
- Technologist/Data Scientist, Data Privacy and Security Division, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, Boston, MA: $75,000 to $100,000 yearly
- Program Officer for Technology, Legal Services Corporation, Washington, DC: $108,490 to $112,873 yearly