Evaluating The Risk Assessment Tools for Black Communities: Answering the Question of Equity.

• In Event: Assessing the Impact of Procedural Practices, Social Control, and Economic Sanctions on Marginalized Communities

Abstract

Abstract

Risk assessment instruments are prevalent and well-established in criminal justice administrations across all levels of government in the U.S. These tools are used as predictive instruments to assess risks, such as failure to appear in court and threats to public safety, due to their accuracy. However, this study looks beyond the numbers. It focuses on the human impact of using risk assessment tools within the U.S. criminal justice system, which is notoriously stratified and inherently biased against minorities, particularly Black communities. It seeks to determine whether using risk assessment tools contributes to racial inequities based on the nature of the measured risk factors, leading to differential outcomes for Black communities. The findings reveal that static risk factors, such as race/ethnicity, commitment placement history, and secure detention history, combined with the social disorganization index, are positively related to juvenile recidivism, specifically rearrests within 365 days. This study advocates for a holistic and comprehensive understanding of the use of risk assessment tools, emphasizing the need to contextualize the racial and socioeconomic realities of Black communities at both individual and community levels.

Author

• Olaniran Akintunde, Florida International University