First Advisor

Aaron Roussell

Date of Award

Spring 6-15-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Mathematics and University Honors

Department

Mathematics and Statistics

Language

English

Subjects

Law enforcement -- Technological innovations -- United States, Racial profiling in law enforcement -- United States, Computer algorithms

DOI

10.15760/honors.1208

Abstract

Predictive policing, sometimes referred to as data-driven or actuarial policing, is a method of policing that uses a risk-based approach to law enforcement. For-profit technology companies market proprietary risk assessment algorithms to law enforcement organizations as tools meant to proactively mitigate crime. Using data collected from a vast array of sources, both personal and public, police are able to "predict" the likelihood of criminal activity in a given area using these algorithms. Proponents claim that risk assessment tools have the potential to fight crime with unbiased accuracy and speed by predicting when, where, and whom to police by relying on mathematics and data analytics. Critics argue however, that historically marginalized communities have been, and continue to be marginalized due to the use of data that act as proxies for race and ethnicity in risk assessment algorithms. For this reason, members of these communities are disproportionately affected by predictive policing practices, which has led to their overrepresentation in our modern carceral system. This paper provides a framework for understanding the link between America’s historic racial hierarchy and the disproportionate policing and/or incarceration of communities of color, and calls into question the supposed "unimpeachable" nature of data analytics in policing.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/37713

Download

Share

COinS