Piitsburgh crime hot spot software is racially biased

[Monello]

SJWs I predict will start tearing down main frames once they are done toppling statues. So now whenever we don't like the results of data mining, blame it on systemic racism.

Citing concerns about potential racial bias, the city of Pittsburgh has suspended an algorithm policing program that predicted “hot spots” for criminal activity, and instead will focus any new data-driven programs on deploying social services, according to Mayor Bill Peduto.

The Carnegie Mellon University-developed tool aimed to rely on data sources to predict where crime would occur and then dispatch patrols to those areas. The city began piloting the program in 2017.

“We understand that the decision to adopt the tool in the first instance may have been based on a demonstrated lack of racial bias and promising findings of impact that have not been shared with the public,” the June 17 letter read. “However, without transparency and public consultation, this program will not and should not achieve meaningful legitimacy.”

the problem isn't with the data

 

[Ken King]

Makes sense. If you are "deploying" social services types you don't want to send them into crime hot spots, that could get them killed.

 

[Monello]

Wait, it gets better.

A group of mathematicians in the United States has written a letter calling for their colleagues to stop collaborating with police because of the widely documented disparities in how US law-enforcement agencies treat people of different races and ethnicities. They concentrate their criticism on predictive policing, a maths-based technique aimed at stopping crime before it occurs.

In recent years, mathematicians, statisticians and computer scientists have been developing algorithms that crunch large amounts of data and claim to help police reduce crime — for instance, by suggesting where crime is most likely to occur and focusing more resources in those areas.

heads in the sand

 

[GURPS]

Foundation

 

[Hijinx]

Does this mean that more police are being sent to Lexington Park than anywhere else?

 

[DaSDGuy]

Does this mean that more police are being sent to Lexington Park than anywhere else?

More people in LP so more crime.

 

[Gilligan]

This chit is priceless. Completely ignore the facts and the data on who all the thugs and criminals are and go stake out the Amish instead.

 

[SamSpade]

This chit is priceless. Completely ignore the facts and the data on who all the thugs and criminals are and go stake out the Amish instead.

And THIS is precisely what needs to be accepted and clarified before any meaningful discussion - do you agree (you meaning, anyone) that African Americans are more likely to commit these crimes than another demographic? For example, do you think it's true that while they might comprise a certain percentage of a local population, they are going to be over-represented among those arrested and/or convicted of crimes because they are far more likely to commit them?

If that is true - isn't it more important to address WHY that happens, than why more are arrested, or convicted, or incarcerated?

 

[limblips]

If that is true - isn't it more important to address WHY that happens, than why more are arrested, or convicted, or incarcerated?

Yes it is but until that happens and effective change measures are functioning predictive policing based on known factors needs to continue. There is much better utilization of resources in Balmur than in Callaway.

 

[Hijinx]

And THIS is precisely what needs to be accepted and clarified before any meaningful discussion - do you agree (you meaning, anyone) that African Americans are more likely to commit these crimes than another demographic? For example, do you think it's true that while they might comprise a certain percentage of a local population, they are going to be over-represented among those arrested and/or convicted of crimes because they are far more likely to commit them?

If that is true - isn't it more important to address WHY that happens, than why more are arrested, or convicted, or incarcerated?

I would love to have a dollar for everyone who has tried to find out WHY it happens and how to prevent it.
It has been blamed on their environment, the heat during the summer, drugs, bad parenting, ignorance, racism, just about anything you can think of BUT NO ONE HAS EVER COME UP WITH AN ANSWER OR A SOLUTION.