You are viewing an archived webpage. The information on this page may be out of date. Learn about EPIC's recent work at epic.org.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Upholds Use of Sentencing Algorithms, But Recognizes Risks

The Wisconsin Supreme Court this week rejected a challenge to the use of a risk-assessment algorithm in a sentencing proceeding. These algorithms score an individual's risk of committing future crime. The Court sanctioned the use of such algorithms, provided they are not the exclusive determining factor of a sentence, and judges receive written warnings about the algorithm's shortcomings. Professor Danielle Citron warned that the court's faith in the secret techniques is "unwarranted" particularly because "human beings have a tendency to rely on automated decisions even when they suspect system malfunction." EPIC has advocated for algorithmic transparency and maintains a website describing the use of algorithms in the criminal justice system.


« US Government Loses on Overseas Data Searches | Main | Irish Court Approves EPIC as Amicus in Schrems Case »

Share this page:

Defend Privacy. Support EPIC.
US Needs a Data Protection Agency
2020 Election Security