Criminal
Sep. 8, 2017
Assessing algorithm-influenced bail
Bail reform champions argue public safety, more than wealth, should determine defendants' pre-trial release chances; but after a computer-generated public safety score recommended release for a San Francisco defendant subsequently arrested for murder, debate over the role of algorithms in modern bail systems has raged. San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi and Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Eric Siddall discuss.
Jeffrey G. Adachi
San Francisco public defender
criminal law (certified)
UC Hastings
Eric Siddall
Deputy District Attorney, Los Angeles District Attorney's Office
211 W Temple St Fl 11
Los Angeles , CA 90012-4455
Eric is vice president of the Association of Deputy District Attorneys, the collective bargaining agent representing nearly 800 deputy district attorneys who work for the County of Los Angeles. The opinions expressed here are the author's own and do not reflect the views of his employer or any other organization.
This week's guests, Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Eric Siddall, and San Francisco Public Defender, Jeff Adachi, weigh the merits of bail reform that includes computer-generated risk assessment scores. While both agree that the cash bail system could use reforms, they differ in their thoughts as to whether algorithms should play a role in determining whether or not defendants are released prior to trial, and both men also disagree about the value of certain pre-trial services, like trial reminders, proposed by bail reform supporters.
Brian Cardile
brian_cardile@dailyjournal.com
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