Pretrial risk assessment tools must be directed toward an abolitionist vision GeoTech Cues by Nikhil Raghuveera and Hannah Biggs seeks to provide public and private sector leaders insight into how technology and data can be used as tools for good. This publication examines the use of risk assessment tools in the United States criminal justice system. The analysis concludes that risk assessment tools must be framed as abolition technology if they are to address the systemic failures and oppressive practices of the criminal justice system.
The United States criminal justice system is increasingly turning to risk assessment tools in pretrial hearings before a defendant is convicted of a crime as well as in sentencing procedures. Risk assessment tools give judges a numerical metric that indicates a pretrial defendant’s risk of failing to appear in court, or threat to the community prior to