Gransnet forums

Chat

Page 1 of 1
Flip | Customise

AI to decide jail terms, just my idea

(7 Posts)
Add comment | Report
Whethertomorrow Thu 09-Nov-23 12:18:34

I was wondering about the wisdom of having AI decide jail sentences for the future. I’m sure we’ve all been shocked at some jail terms for crimes. There seems to be little logic applied when two similar crimes can get very wildly different terms. Many to me seem very light for the crimes committed. Human bias is very difficult to overcome.
Would it not be better to have an impartial and purely objective judge for the sentencing? The trial would proceed as normal, evidence and witnesses for example, and of course a jury decides the result, but the sentencing would be decided by AI. This would hopefully lead to a level playing field across the country and a consistency in sentences. No more racial/sexist/social standing/celebrity bias decisions.
What do you all think?

Add comment | Report
Baggs Thu 09-Nov-23 12:37:59

Could work with plenty of time to perfect the system, I suppose.

But human checks would still have to be made.

Would appeals be allowed against what a person thought was an unfair sentence?

Add comment | Report
Theexwife Thu 09-Nov-23 13:20:08

What about mitigation, some of which would be emotional that AI could not take into account.

Add comment | Report
vampirequeen Thu 09-Nov-23 13:35:13

Judges look at all the evidence and often take reports before issuing a sentence. We're not always privy to everything that they are.

I know that the sexual offender I recently attended the trial of won't get the punishment I'd give him and that will be fair because emotional response should have no place in the sentence issued. If I had my way I'd lock him up and throw away the key but my reasoning is based not only on what he did but also on what I think he's done in the past and what I think he'd do in the future. The judge will be far more impartial and will sentence purely on the crime he was tried for and not on potential/suspected crimes.

Add comment | Report
welbeck Thu 09-Nov-23 13:55:10

for fines, some jurisdiction have so many days' pay, rather a fixed £sum.
that seems a good idea.
unless those with no income, or undeclared income, would feel they can offend with impunity.
but then repeat offences should lead to prison.
there would need to be fine tuning, but it might be worth a trial (!) period.

Add comment | Report
Katie59 Thu 09-Nov-23 16:17:49

AI is just a series of computer programmes, you can tell it to be emotional or logical as you wish, they are very clever but they are only obeying the instructions they have “learned”.

Add comment | Report
M0nica Fri 10-Nov-23 13:42:41

The factors taken into account when making sentencing decisions are codified and depend on a whole range of factors involved not just what crime has been convicted. It will include such factors as whether the defendent has shown any remorse for their crime, their previous history and so on.

The judge does, of course, have full view of the defendaant thrughout the trial and can reach conclusions about the defendant the way doctors used to use visual clues as an aid to diagnosis in the days when you saw a doctor, didn't just talk to them on a phone.

AI would be unable to do this.

Page 1 of 1
Flip | Customise