Six Ethical Quandaries of Predictive Policing - KDnuggets

Nowhere could the application of machine learning prove more important -- nor more risky -- than in law enforcement and national security. In this article, I'll review this area and then cover six perplexing and pressing ethical quandaries that arise. Predictive policing introduces a scientific element to law enforcement decisions, such as whether to investigate or detain, how long to sentence, and whether to parole. In making such decisions, judges and officers take into consideration the probability a suspect or defendant will be convicted for a crime in the future -- which is commonly the dependent variable for a predictive policing model. These independent variables may include prior convictions, income level, employment status, family background, neighborhood, education level, and the behavior of family and friends.