Anne Milgram: Why smart statistics are the key to fighting crime

The speaker discusses their journey from being the attorney general of New Jersey to addressing systemic issues in criminal justice through data and analytics. They highlight challenges faced in Camden and the broader national context, emphasizing the need for data-driven decision-making. A universal risk assessment tool was developed to aid judges in making informed decisions, aiming to transform the criminal justice system into one that is fairer and more effective.

What was one of the main challenges the speaker faced when they became the Attorney General of New Jersey?

• High turnover rates among prosecutors

• Resistance from local law enforcement agencies

• Inability to access important data about arrests and charges

• Lack of funding for criminal justice initiatives

What approach did the speaker want to introduce to the criminal justice system in New Jersey?

• A community outreach program

• A new training program for police officers

• A data-driven approach similar to Moneyball

• A focus on increasing the number of arrests

What significant change occurred in Camden, New Jersey, as a result of data-driven policing?

• An increase in low-level drug arrests

• A 41% reduction in murders

• A rise in political corruption cases

• A decrease in police department funding

What percentage of arrests in the U.S. are for violent crimes, according to the speaker?

• Less than 5%

• 30%

• 10%

• 20%

What is one of the main issues with the current U.S. criminal justice system highlighted by the speaker?

• Excessive funding for corrections

• Lack of public awareness

• High recidivism rates

• Over-reliance on technology

What was the primary goal of developing a universal risk assessment tool?

• To reduce the number of judges in the system

• To provide a scientific measure of risk for judges

• To increase the number of convictions

• To eliminate the need for bail

What was a major limitation of existing risk assessment tools before the new development?

• They were too simple to be effective

• They were expensive and time-consuming

• They were not based on any data

• They were only available to federal judges

What does the new risk assessment tool predict about defendants?

• Their likelihood of becoming a judge

• Their potential for committing a new crime

• Their ability to pay bail

• Their educational background

What is the speaker's view on the role of judges' instincts in decision-making?

• Judges should rely solely on data

• Judges' instincts should complement data-driven tools

• Judges should ignore data and rely on experience

• Judges' instincts should be eliminated

What is the ultimate goal of implementing data-driven tools in the criminal justice system?

• To increase the number of arrests

• To eliminate the need for trials

• To reduce the number of judges

• To make the system more fair and just