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The Justice Department pledges to address racial bias in an algorithm that determines early release.

The U.S. Department of Justice is reviewing the algorithm it uses to determine whether people in federal custody are eligible for early release. The algorithm, intended to determine an individual’s risk of reoffending, exhibits racial bias.

The United States has one of the highest recidivism rates in the world. About half of all people released from federal prisons are rearrested within eight years. In light of stark data, experts conclude that U.S. prisons do a poor job of rehabilitating people and preparing them to reenter society successfully. Research demonstrates that U.S. prisons do not adequately treat or address root causes of criminality, such as mental health issues, addiction, and lack of education and job training.

In addition, when people are released from government custody, they can face challenges obtaining employment and housing, as people with criminal records are frequently subject to legally sanctioned discrimination. Difficulties obtaining legal employment and reintegrating into civic society can lead individuals to reengage in crime.

The First Step Act, a bipartisan law passed in 2018, is aimed at reducing recidivism by addressing these root causes. The law allows certain people in federal custody to earn time credit toward early release for participating in approved recidivism reduction programs, which include vocational and apprenticeship...

Read Full Story: https://www.theregreview.org/2022/05/10/rauenzahn-addressing-an-algorithmic-p...