From Theory to Impact - Why Better Data Systems are Necessary for Criminal Legal Reform

Learn about the critical challenges and systemic issues in America's criminal justice data infrastructure through this 33-minute lecture from Yale University researcher Caroline Nobo at the Symposium on Foundations of Responsible Computing. Explore the fragmented landscape of local criminal justice data systems, examining how outdated technologies and siloed information create barriers to meaningful reform. Gain insights into the paradoxical relationship between abundant but theoretically ungrounded tech products and evidence-based research in the criminal justice space. Discover why current case management software, built on obsolete normative values, hinders reform efforts, and understand the pressing need for improved measurement systems and data transparency. Examine potential solutions through discussions of procedural justice, trust-building initiatives, and decarceral technologies that could help transform the criminal legal system.