Data for Justice: Race and the Criminal Legal System

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Tens of millions of people in the United States have been directly impacted by the criminal legal system, with nearly half the population affected through close familial or social ties. Beyond its direct harm, the system’s opacity makes it difficult to pinpoint where that harm occurs. Echoing civil rights pioneer Ida B. Wells—who stated, “The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them”—this talk will demonstrate how data science can support racial justice. It will feature case studies spanning various scales and stages of the criminal legal system, including policing in Williamstown, Massachusetts; the use of criminal risk algorithms, such as those in Broward County, Florida; and criminal sentencing in federal district courts, including the first known analysis of sentencing patterns among Trump-appointed judges. These examples highlight the critical role of data science in fostering transparency and advancing justice.

Anyone interested in meeting with Dr. Topaz during the morning of Tuesday, April 1, please reach out to me as soon as possible. He may also have time for an early morning breakfast meeting on Wed, before his flight home (10:30am). We will also have Dr. Topaz joining our Grad Teaching Seminar (Psy 591) to share his thoughts on Inclusivity in Teaching and we will invite others to join us, space permitting (email me as well).