The website ProPublica recently published a story that focused on the scientific validity of COMPAS, raising questions about racial bias. As a result of the article and the subsequent national attention that it garnered, Northpointe launched an in-depth analysis of the data samples used by ProPublica.
State by state, and even on a more micro municipal level, we are seeing the conversation around justice and corrections evolve and transform daily. As philosophical, political, policy, and practical debates take shape, what can you look to as your "north star" when setting the course for success within your agency?
As the creators of the COMPAS, a widely used and trusted Risk and Needs Assessment, it’s important to us to be part of the conversation. There are some common myths in play, and we want to address those - but more importantly, we want to share more about who Northpointe is and speak plainly on the issue of bias in our criminal justice system.
In the last few years, pretrial reform has accelerated to an almost breakneck speed. The traditional practice of setting monetary bail based strictly on a person’s current criminal charges and their criminal history is shifting to practices that look for alternative ways to handle pretrial decisions based on a person’s risk level. Those who work in corrections are wondering how to navigate a system that will no longer rely on money bail.
You’ve heard that risk/needs assessments can provide plenty of benefits: these tools support criminal justice professionals as they make decisions related to pretrial release, inmate classification and programming, supervision case management, and treatment needs.
With so much conversation around pretrial practices and so much legislative change happening now and on the horizon, it can be difficult to fully understand their impact on our processes. Staying ahead of the reform conversation is no easy feat – especially when you’re focused on ensuring compliance and keeping your community safe.
Specialty Courts, Treatment Courts, Mental Health Courts, Drug Courts… whatever the name, the base idea is the same: If you treat the root of a problem, your chances of truly solving that problem can skyrocket.
Every day, we make life-altering recommendations and decisions, from pretrial release to probation conditions to reentry and parole. There’s no lack of available information about tools and evidence-based principles, all intended to help supervision professionals align our practices with the EBP body of research.
Northpointe, Inc. d/b/a equivant, issues the following in response to the article in the January 17, 2018 Science Advances online open access journal article titled “The accuracy, fairness, and limits of predicting recidivism”.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court unanimously ruled on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 that the State of Wisconsin can continue to use COMPAS to aid judges with sentencing decisions. The court concluded that "...if used properly, observing the limitations and cautions set forth herein, a circuit court's consideration of a COMPAS risk assessment at sentencing does not violate a defendant's right to due process".
