Advancing the FAIR-PReSONS AI system: Building a user interface for transparent reincarceration risk assessment

The FAIR-PReSONS project has been developing a bias-free system for predicting reincarceration that ensures fairness and accountability, while respecting legal frameworks and social values across European contexts.

This tool aims to estimate the likelihood of someone being reincarcerated, based on historical data from Bulgaria, Portugal, and Greece. It is designed to help explore general patterns of reoffending and to support justice professionals in understanding risk trends and protective factors.
A user interface is being developed to facilitate responsible and transparent interaction with the system. Through this interface, trained judicial professionals can input relevant information about individual profiles and obtain an evaluation of the risk of reincarceration. The system draws upon several categories of information, such as:

• Profile information: Social, educational, and national background factors are considered to contextualise the assessment and provide a fairer, more individualised evaluation.
• Criminal history: Previous offences and related circumstances are analysed to help identify behavioural patterns and situational factors that may influence the likelihood of reoffending.
• Sentencing information: Details about sentencing contribute to understanding the legal framework, rehabilitation opportunities, and the person’s potential reintegration trajectory.
  

After analysing this information, the system generates an estimated risk of reincarceration, expressed as a risk score. This score is accompanied by guidance for interpretation, intended for trained professionals who should assess it in light of the individual’s social, personal, and contextual circumstances. The tool’s purpose is to provide exploratory insights into potential reincarceration patterns; however, it should not be used for individual decision-making, nor should it be considered for deterministic results.
This approach aims to promote transparency, fairness, and evidence-based decision-making throughout the assessment process, thus contributing to a fairer and more effective justice system.

Article provided by Innovative Prison Systems (IPS)