Bridging the Gap: Artificial intelligence for Smarter Decision-Making in Criminal Justice

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract/Description

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping the landscape of criminal justice, offering powerful tools to support more efficient, equitable, and evidence-based decision-making. While AI has captured widespread attention and excitement, public understanding of its inner workings and real-world applications remains very limited – a disconnect that must be bridged to ensure AI is developed and deployed responsibly, particularly in high-stakes domains like criminal justice. This thematic panel brings together three papers that explore distinct applications of AI, each highlighting how AI can inform policy and practice. Together, these papers illustrate the promise – and complexity – of applying AI in public policy and government operations, offering practical insights and cautionary considerations for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers seeking to responsibly advance AI in the service of justice.

Sub Unit

• Area VI. The Criminal Justice System / 52. Challenging Criminal Justice Policies

Individual Presentations

• Promoting AI-Readiness in Criminal Justice - Erika Tyagi, Urban Institute

• Addressing Capacity Constraints in Corrections Through Agentic Artificial Intelligence - Kideuk Kim, Urban Institute

• From Readiness to Responsibility: Navigating the Rise of AI in Public Life - Ashlin Oglesby-Neal, The Urban Institute