Pretrial Justice Institute releases a report detailing arguments against the use of risk assessments. “In 2020, after an extensive period of reflection, the Pretrial Justice Institute released a statement opposing RAIs. First and foremost, that position was driven by a strengthening commitment to racial equity and a conviction that the tools do not adequately address … Continued
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Reform advocates argue whether to keep cash bail or implement risk assessments. “The movement to eradicate bail from America’s justice system will face a crucial test Nov. 3, when California voters will decide whether to end the centuries-old practice of trading money for freedom and replace it with algorithms that try to predict whether defendants … Continued
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New study finds Colorado pretrial tool widens racial disparities in jails. “A July study by the University of Northern Colorado found that the most widely used risk assessment tool in Colorado, known as the Colorado Pretrial Assessment Tool, or CPAT, scored Black people higher than white people even though their odds of missing a court … Continued
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Intercept article examines impact of RATs in Kentucky. “As community bail funds across the country received an outpouring of donations to release thousands of people arrested during anti-police brutality protests in the wake of George Floyd’s killing, the underlying inequities of bail reform measures are getting a closer look. Criminal justice reform advocates have raised the alarm about … Continued
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Judges in Ohio rejected a proposed requirement for RATs. The ACLU of Ohio took a strong stance against the use of RATs, stating that “Risk assessment instruments have not been shown to fix bias in pretrial decision-making, even as a supplement to decisions made by judges.” This statement had an impact on the Ohio Supreme … Continued
Read More Pretrial Justice Institute shifts position on pretrial RATs. Pretrial Justice Institute (PJI), a key organization fighting nationally for pretrial justice, recently shifted its position on pretrial risk assessment tools. PJI had previously supported jurisdictions in reforming their pretrial systems, including the use of risk assessment tools. However, on February 7, they stated: “We now see … Continued
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Our website is featured in an article by The Appeal. The Appeal showcased Mapping Pretrial Injustice in their article entitled “New Data Suggests Risk Assessment Tools Have Little Impact on Pretrial Incarceration.” The article focused on the findings of our research and the launch of our database and this website. The authors focused on how … Continued
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Mapping Pretrial Injustice highlighted in New York Times article. Our website was featured in “An Algorithm That Grants Freedom, or Takes It Away,” a New York Times article about the impacts of algorithms in key decision-making contexts. The article highlighted Mapping Pretrial Injustice as a national database of pretrial tools in its argument about how … Continued
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Our webinar is now available! The recording of our webinar detailing this site is now available on our Webinar page. Watch the webinar that launched the website on February 6, 2020, co-hosted by Movement Alliance Project and MediaJustice. The webinar gives an overview of pretrial risk assessments, highlights key findings from our research, and walks … Continued
Read MoreDisclaimer:
Movement Alliance Project and MediaJustice created this site as a tool to support organizers and movements seeking to end pretrial detention and pretrial punishment. We think organizers need to pay close attention to exactly how these tools are used, and approach risk assessment with skepticism when it is presented as a solution to pretrial incarceration.
Our research was conducted by a team of organizers, interns, researchers, and local activists. We relied on internet searching, communication with public officials and bureaucrats, and publicly available Freedom of Information Act requests.
We do not expect our data to be perfect. We did NOT get a snapshot of every single tool in use across the country, and our data could have gaps or be wrong in some places.
Check out our full purpose and caveats and methodology for more information on how we conducted our research.
If you see a gap or correction in our information, please contact us.
