TED: How bad data traps people in the US justice system | Clementine Jacoby

The video discusses the challenges in the US criminal justice system, focusing on the impact of fragmented and outdated data. It highlights the case of Kate, who remains on probation despite meeting all requirements, due to data issues. The video introduces a nonprofit engineering team, Recidivist, which developed a tool to streamline data for parole officers, enabling them to identify eligible individuals for release. The tool's implementation in Idaho led to significant improvements, and the video advocates for better data integration to enhance criminal justice reform.

What is the main issue that all parties agree is slowing down change in the criminal justice system?

• Inadequate laws

• Bad data

• Overcrowded prisons

• Lack of funding

What makes Allison's job as a parole officer particularly challenging?

• She has too many people to supervise

• She works in a remote location

• She lacks proper training

• The data she needs is scattered across multiple databases

What historical period saw the rapid growth of the fragmented justice system?

• The 1970s

• The 1990s

• The 1960s

• The 1980s

What is the primary function of the tool developed by Recidivist?

• To train parole officers

• To manage prison resources

• To identify who is eligible for release

• To track criminal activities

How did the introduction of Recidivist's tool impact the probation and parole system in Idaho?

• It led to more people being incarcerated

• It increased the number of people on probation

• It reduced the number of people in the system by 5%

• It had no significant impact

What is one of the key benefits of integrating data in the criminal justice system?

• It increases the number of laws

• It helps identify effective treatment programs

• It decreases the number of court cases

• It reduces the need for parole officers

What is the ultimate goal of the changes proposed by the speaker?

• To eliminate the parole system

• To build more prisons

• To reduce racial disparities and save taxpayer dollars

• To increase incarceration rates