The developing trends in artificial intelligence systems affect the various parts of our society. It also impact on the criminal justice system. Businesses and organizations prefer to use AI tools for investigation, analyzing data and making quick decisions. It is necessary to understand both the positive and negative impact of AI.
In June 2024, the Council on Criminal Justice(CCJ) brought together many experts to discuss about the artificial intelligence’s impact on the criminal justice system. Approximately 36 people from different fields such as lawmakers, police, researchers, and technology experts, met for 2 days. They discussed the impact of AI on criminal justice.
Sometimes, the AI system can be unfair or biased. Users are unable to understand how it works properly and could be used inaccurately. It is important to make sure that the AI system is fair, and works efficiently to protect the justice system and the rights of people.
6 essential ethical concerns of AI in criminal justice
There are ethical issues with the application of AI in criminal justice that require careful thought. These issues include accountability, fairness, transparency, and bias in decision-making.
1. Bias and discrimination
AI learns from data and the process is known as machine learning. If the data is wrong or unfair, AI can copy the same data and make these ideas stronger. This can result in wrong consequences that harm the organization. This is special for specific groups like racial or ethnic minorities, who may be treated unfairly.
2. Accountability
After receiving wrong results from AI, it is difficult to make predictions about the culprit. It might be the one who designed the AI, the one who is operating the AI, or the AI itself. This uncertainty can be challenging when it comes to the law and figuring out what’s right or wrong to do.
3. Erosion of Human Judgment
Over-dependence of AI systems can lose the ability to think and make strong decisions. Furthermore, people are unable to find the exact reason for the mistake and are unknown about certain happenings. This can lead to problems because human judgment is important especially when making important decisions about crime and justice. So it is essential for people to stay involved and keep all matters under control.
4. Possibility of misuse and breaking rules
AI systems may be used to help with actions against persons without adequate reason and evidence. This undermines the assumption of innocence. This problematizes the assumption that something more than suspicion is required before police action is taken. Further, AI’s effect on consequential judgments like arresting a subject, determining bail, decisions on sentencing, or an early release are troublesome since matters of fair process and compliance with law are involved.
Although there must be sound decision-making with fair treatment, AI’s effect on these decisions, if not precisely controlled, has the potential for making less equitable and legitimate choices. Against this background, it becomes increasingly important to keep an eye on the application of AI in such cases.
5. Privacy concerns
Artificial intelligence systems work well with bulk data. Collecting this huge amount of data makes people worry about their privacy. Sometimes, it is also expected that personal information can be used in the wrong way. It is compulsory to protect personal details and make sure data handling hands are secure and know how to operate an AI system properly.
6. Impact on public trust
Most individuals worry about honesty, fairness, and accountability in the police and courts. Such worries make people lose trust in law enforcement and the judicial system. If trust decreases, police and courts will find it increasingly difficult to do their job properly and maintain safety for everyone.
5 important ethical principles of artificial intelligence
Below we have mentioned 5 ethical principles of AI that ensure the correct and fair use of artificial intelligence systems.
- Responsibility and accountability: Ministry of Defense(MOD) staff are required to use good judgment and be held accountable for the development, deployment, and operation of AI capabilities, ensuring safe and ethical use in accordance with UK values and legal frameworks
- Fairness and minimising bias: The MOD actively seeks ways to minimize unintended bias in AI systems, promoting fair outcomes and enhancing trust in AI applications throughout Defense.
- Transparency and traceability: AI systems are created with transparent, auditable methods, extensive documentation, and transparent data provenance. Defense personnel responsible have training in AI technologies and operating procedures to enable traceability throughout the AI lifecycle.
- Reliability and safety: AI functions have well-defined roles and are tested thoroughly for safety, security, and performance across their complete lifecycle. This comprises ongoing assurance processes to address risks and preserve operational integrity.
- Governance and control: AI systems are designed to perform specific functions with the inclusion of mechanisms to identify and counteract unintended effects. The MOD guarantees the capability to override, disengage, or deactivate AI systems showing unwanted behaviors, enabling strong human control
In a nutshell, acquiring appropriate knowledge of Artificial Intelligence (AI) prior to using it is essential to use its full potential effectively and safely. At the Oxford Training Centre, we provide a wide variety of Artificial Intelligence (AI) courses that will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of AI basics, real-world applications, and ethics.
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