JusticeTech DL: digital dragnets; bail risk assessment sim + Jobs
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I'm happy to announce that Keith Porcaro and I have released the beta of Detain/Release, a simulation to help understand pre-trial risk assessments developed at Georgetown Law Center. In free beta, the simulation has three main features:
The Simulation: You can use it and get a feel of its mechanics.
Hosting: You can create a "room", which generates a link you can share with colleagues or students to run multiple simulations simultaneously. This can be done with or without risk assessments, allowing for experimentation.
Data Collection: As a host, you'll be able to collect user created data in real time. This will let you know outcomes; the number of people processed, detained and released; and whether the prosecutor or the defendant were more persuasive to the user, among other data points.
To learn more, we wrote this article. Please let us know if you have comments, questions or recommendations.
News
Our simulation comes at a time when there is growing legislative interest in AI. The EU passed new guidelines on developing ethical AI (spoiler: it's all about transparency and accountability). (Verge) Democrats in Congress want to take on AI bias. (WaPo) In 2017, NYC passed a law to investigate algorithms used by local government, turns out that's really hard. (Recode)
Even as the New York City council is figuring out AI, the NYPD is using a chatbot to go after Johns (NYT) and MTA's first facial recognition trial failed to recognize any faces. (WSJ)
For some reason, we're still OK with "reverse warrants" that create an after-the-fact digital dragnet around a crime scene. (NYT)
Chicago uses GPS monitors to track kids and record them without consent. (Appeal)
Due process hasn't kept up with the automated administrative state, including our justice systems. (Shorenstein)
Amazon is helping the police set up package theft stings. (Motherboard)
Instagram breeds a new brand of internet star: crime scene cleanup experts. (Daily Beast)
A woman called the cops on an intruder ... it was her Roomba. (CNET)
Events
Code for America's annual summit is on May 29 in Oakland, CA. (CfA)
Tel Aviv University's Cyberweek conference from June 23-27 will cover a host of topics, including the ethics of AI in criminal justice systems, which I'll be speaking on. (Cyberweek)
The National Network to End Domestic Violence is hosting its Technology Summit in San Francisco, July 29-31. (NNEDV)
The Maintainers are putting on a third conference focused on maintenance, infrastructure and repair in Washington D.C., October 6-9. (Maintainers)
The American Society of Criminology meeting is happening in San Francisco between November 13-16. (ASC)
Jobs & Opportunities
AI Now Institute is looking for a post-doc researcher. (AI Now)
Arnold Ventures has a bunch of job openings in their various criminal justice tracks. (Arnold)
The California Courts Digital Service has numerous openings, including a data scientist and legal content designer. (CDS)
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has a user experience researcher and senior engineer openings in their Justice and Opportunity vertical. (CZI)
The Death Penalty Information Center is hiring a data fellow in Washington D.C. (DPIC)
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is looking for attorneys and an international policy director. (EFF)
The Lab at D.C. is looking for a data scientist, social scientist and operations analyst. (The Lab)
Measures for Justice is looking for a research associate. (MforJ)
TechCongress is looking for a Washington D.C. director. (TC)
Uptrust, a court reminder platform, is looking for a front end engineer and tech lead manager. (Uptrust)