The new algorithms, presented for consideration in Texas, have been tested in Harris County in Houston with disastrous consequences. These algorithms take decisions out of the hands of elected judges and leave the safety of the public in the hands of flawed computers.
While these policies were sold to the public in terms of preventing poor people from spending unnecessary time in jail because they aren’t able to meet bail, the reality of these policies is that dangerous criminals are being released back into the public based on a signed piece of paper stating they will appear in court, with no enforcement or monitoring to ensure they actually do so.
Case in point, a repeat offender in Pasadena was twice released on personal recognizance and went on an armed robbery spree.