How is AI being used in Criminal Justice?

The perks of artificial intelligence (AI) can not be summed up in simple words. From healthcare to lifestyle, from transportation to communication, from AI in the workplace to home interiors, from AI in disaster management to AI in customer services, AI has a widespread network. 

 

From the last few decades, AI is transforming the global justice delivery system too. In this blog we will read about the role AI serves in delivering criminal justice. We will also see its applications specifically in Indian forces and police.

 

What is the meaning of Criminal Justice?

 

Before jumping to the main topic let us understand the meaning of criminal justice.

 

Criminal justice is basically defined as a justice delivering system. It delivers justice to the people who have committed crimes or suffered from the same. Different countries have rules for delivering criminal justice. Government agencies and different intelligence institutions do this purpose. Criminal justice agencies include police, law enforcement agencies, prison officers, and courts.

 

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What is the role of AI in criminal justice?

 

AI is the phenomenon of the evolution of machines. The machines are embedded with technologies and concepts in such a way that they can mimic the human brain and help in decision making. In simple words, the way through which machines can also think like humans is the process of artificial intelligence. 

 

AI right now is all set to bring evolution in business data. With certain abilities such as analyzing vast amounts of data, decision intelligence, business insights, forecasting models, predictive analysis, there is a possibility of artificial intelligence going beyond human capability. 

 

AI in criminal justice has a very crucial role. We’ve listed some of the advantages the technology holds in criminal justice.

 

Deeper insights

 

AI technologies provide deeper insights of the data. It sticks to the minor information that humans miss sometimes. 

 

 

Predictive analysis

 

Deeper insights provide future predictions of the gathered data. The AI algorithms help to analyze large data sets to find solutions and future predictions.

 

 

Forensic psychology

 

Forensic psychology is one of the major advantages of AI. Forensics are used by law enforcement agencies to trace the culprit through biological data and AI.

 

 

Maintains the data

 

By maintaining the data, legal terms, and old records. AI makes the process of criminal justice quite simpler and quicker.

 

 

Automation in prisons

 

AI helps in post-conviction stages too. It provides automation of security in cells and prisons. And at the same time, it assists in the rehabilitation of criminals. It helps in tracking the prisoners and notifying guards in the case of emergencies.

 

For example, the Yancheng prison, which is a facility operated by China’s Ministry of Justice, has got cameras installed in each cell aiming to make use of AI to track its inmates. 

 

 

Criminogenic assistance

 

AI and its algorithms also assist in criminogenic needs. It determines the special way which can help the criminals by suggesting the best special way of treatment for them.

 

Algorithm based training programs

 

A jail in Finland, has a training scheme that uses AI based training algorithms. Artificial intelligence designs the different tasks for the prisoners as per their skills and thus helps them in learning new professions and jobs. These new learned skills help the prisoners to serve the society once their sentence period is over. 

 

 

Predicts recidivism

 

According to Stanford University, artificial intelligence predicts recidivism better than humans. AI algorithms sort the complexity of the criminal justice system and provide better decisions.

 

 

Risk assessment test

 

Risk assessment tools provide more accurate and precise results as compared to traditional methods of human judgment.

 

 

Transparency

 

The decisions taken by AI algorithms are always transparent in nature. As compared to human decisions which can be biased sometimes.

 

 

Logical decisions

 

The decisions and predictions done by AI algorithms are totally logical and based entirely on facts and data. Human decisions are sometimes driven by emotions and sentiments.

 

 

Biometrics

 

Biometrics is another advantage of AI. It supports attendance and recognition of the prisoners through biological identification features.

 

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Status of AI in Indian Justice System

 

AI has its legs in the following routes :

 

1. JARVIS, a video analytics platform, launched by Staqu, a Gurugram based startup in November 2019. JARVIS expands for Joint AI Research for Video Instances and Streams. 

 

It mines CCTV footage and offers detection of several crimes such as violence, pick-pocketing. Currently, the company is working with eight states, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar and Telangana.

 

2. Punjab police employed the Police AI System or PAIS in 2018. It assists the police with several features such as face search and text search. The technology also provides a database that can hold more than 1 lakh records of the criminals from the different jails across the state.

 

3. The UP police have been added to a database, named Trinetra, since 2018. The AI based application can hold the records of up to 5 lakhs criminals with facial recognition features. 

 

4. Delhi police in collaboration with INNEFU labs employed a software in 2017. The software offers gait and body analysis. It also assists with facial recognition. The company provides facial biometrics at feasible prices.

 

Some other states like Odisha are also searching the AI software as per their requirements and have invited applications for the same.

 

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What are the limitations of AI in criminal justice?

 

Its all not just a bed of roses, there also exist some limitations of AI in the criminal justice sector. The major limitations are as follows:

 

Complex process

 

AI algorithms and decision intelligence is a complex process. Sometimes even the original creator himself is not aware of it. This limitation sometimes creates a major lag in the system.

 

Data privacy

 

No matter what the field, data privacy has always been a huge limitation of AI. AI and its algorithms risk the protection of individual’s data.

 

Doesn’t consider human or emotional factor

 

Justice every time can not be driven by facts and logic. Sometimes it needs to look at the emotional side of the story too. Here, AI and its technology are failures.

 

Not only in the justice delivery system. AI tools have been extended in detecting smuggling and other red flags like crimes. In past years, AI has curbed several illegal operations, including child related crimes too. And in the coming years AI is expected to grow more strong in the field crossing all the barriers and limitations.