Do you know the United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with over 2.3 million people behind bars. There are all kinds of circumstances that contributes to this. We should all be careful not to marginalize others because of their circumstances.
In this article, we will discuss programs for the formerly incarcerated, how Ai can contribute to equity in the justice system and programs that are for the formerly incarcerated.
Also, this evening, Wednesday, August 16 at 6PM EST, we will be having a room on Clubhouse called from Prison to Purpose, where we will be discussing these topics plus hearing stories of how these amazing individuals found purpose and how they are making a big impact in the lives of others. Join Us: https://www.clubhouse.com/invite/LiEDFHzg (RSVP)
AI for Equity in the Justice System
The question of the day is can AI help create equity in the justice system as well as combat mass incarceration.
Currently, AI is being researched as a public safety resource in numerous ways. Research supported by National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is helping to lead the way in applying AI to address. Let’s focus on the positive ways that AI can help to bring about more fairness. One way is that AI can analyze a defendant’s risk and aid judges in making sentencing decisions. However, there are concerns about its inherent bias. When implemented correctly, algorithms can ultimately be less biased than humans.
Mass incarceration and systemic discrimination have created severe inequities in the justice system. AI technologies present opportunities to make the system fairer if deployed thoughtfully. Here are some of those ways.
Use AI for pre-trial risk assessments rather than cash bail. This curbs detention based on wealth and provides data-based public safety assessments.
Employ AI to detect racial, gender or other biases in charges, convictions and sentencing. This helps identify and eliminate discriminatory patterns.
Analyze data to understand drivers of crime and focus on preventative measures like education, jobs and treatment versus enforcement. Apply AI to identify effective, equitable policy solutions.
Create publicly accessible AI tools to assist citizens with legal information, records expungement, registering to vote and other rights restoration. Ensure underserved groups can access and use these tools.
Apply AI facial recognition and surveillance carefully, as these technologies have exhibited racial and other biases. Focus within the justice system, not public use.
Use AI to match individuals leaving incarceration with customized social services and community-based support. This reduces recidivism risk.
Advancing equity requires mitigating existing harms and preventing future ones. AI can be leveraged to understand and highlight injustices, direct resources effectively, and enhance transparency, fairness and access. Centering ethics and community needs is vital.
Programs for the Formerly Incarcerated
There are many programs available to help them reintegrate into society. Here are some of the programs that are available for the formerly incarcerated:
The MBDA Entrepreneurship Education Program for Formerly Incarcerated Persons is committed to leveraging its capabilities to help increase opportunities that formerly incarcerated minority persons face in trying to reenter the workforce. This program provides entrepreneurship education to formerly incarcerated individuals and helps them start their own businesses.
The Reentry Campus Program is based in Rhode Island and helps currently or formerly incarcerated individuals receive postsecondary education through credit programs, comprehensive wrap-around supports, and prior learning assessment testing.
The Department of Transportation is expanding access to jobs for formerly incarcerated persons and historically marginalized populations in bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act grant programs, including the RAISE Grants, INFRA Grants, and the Port Infrastructure Development Program.
The Biden-Harris Administration has expanded second chance opportunities for formerly incarcerated persons by investing in job training and intensive reentry in federal prisons. The Department of Justice and the Department of Labor have announced a first-of-its-kind collaboration to invest $145 million over FY22-FY23 to provide job skills training and individualized employment and reentry plans for people incarcerated in Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities, and to provide pathways for a seamless transition to employment and reentry support upon release.
We are looking to connect more resources for those who are need of help or want to help.