Increasingly statistical models are being used for risk assessment of (re)offence throughout multiple branches of the judiciary system. With the advance of artificial intelligence driven models and aggregated crime statistics, the behaviour of individuals in relation to both personal history and ‘virtual communities’ of similar offenders can be assessed with increasing precision. The logical, albeit strictly theoretical, conclusion of this technological advance is a model that could produce predictions with absolute certainty. Such a model for risk assessment can only exist in an deterministic universe. A judge on the other hand can only account guilt to an individual by postulating indeterminism and free will. Following this line of reasoning, a model that predicts criminal behaviour perfectly leaves less space for the philosophical foundations upon which the present model of the rule of law is based. As a result, we will face a new reality in court. I will use my time at NIAS to write a screenplay for a short film which explores this new reality.
About NIAS Seminars
NIAS Seminars are aimed to stimulate scientific cross-pollination within the NIAS academic community. Attendance is by invitation only.