Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
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A philanthropic legal unit established by a Houston billionaire is investigating the criminal justice system in America. Some of the ideas that they have would definitely help with many other countries and one of them in particular is actually quite obvious.
They have gone through all the data on previous cases to see, in criminal matters, whether defendants, if released, would commit a violent act, if they would turn up for the next court date and whether or not they are likely to be re-arrested for a similar offence again. They have identified that the main problems are that a large number of people who are guilty of small offences stay in prison even though it is likely that if they were released they would appear at court the second time and that quite often high risk, repeat offenders who are not likely to show up at court, are actually released. They have now combined all their data into a programme that helps predict whether or not somebody will turn up at court and it is apparently highly accurate – I guess, because without generalising, when you do generalise you often do get it right! Obviously, it would be an additional tool over and above the individual facts of each case, but when you think about it, it is extremely surprising that in this day and age of computing everything, that nobody until now has designed a programme, with the input of certain data, which will give you a risk level as to whether or not that particular person should be released on bail and it is certainly a kind of system that would help in South Africa where we frequently hear of those who are getting bail committing further offences.
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Wednesday 27-Nov-13
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Comments
Alexis said:
on Tuesday 03-Dec-13 04:50 PM
I think that it is a very good idea, some people do actually learn and change their ways whereas others will remain the same and carry on doing crime. Best keep the dangerous people in
Yolandi P said:
on Friday 29-Nov-13 03:41 PM
This system can definitely work in SA but it will require lots of research and profiling of of behaviour taught by different cultures. Nicolle is right in saying that people are unique, but that uniqueness only extends to a point. Cultural influences determine how an individual will react in a situation. If they are able to understand the cultural mindset and the background in which the individual was raised there will be enough psychological markers to create a profile.
Thabitha said:
on Friday 29-Nov-13 03:25 PM
This sounds good and I think they must introduce this in SA
Catherine said:
on Friday 29-Nov-13 03:00 PM
I agree with Nicolle that human beings are very unpredictable by nature. So generalising whether a person will or will not turn up court will to some degree not be very accurate.
Sorea said:
on Friday 29-Nov-13 08:14 AM
O well for him who lives at ease
With garnered gold in wide domain,
Nor heeds the splashing of the rain,
The crashing down of forest trees
Kaylee said:
on Wednesday 27-Nov-13 03:22 PM
I agree this is a great concept, it should be employed in SA.
Iola said:
on Wednesday 27-Nov-13 02:33 PM
people are very unpredictable and I'm sure people would find a way to cheat this system if it was ever implemented in South Africa
Safia said:
on Wednesday 27-Nov-13 12:12 PM
That is a great idea. Lots of lives ruined by jail.some men are sent to jail for not paying child maintenance which is a cruel measure, teens are sent to jail for stealing water from supermarkets because they were thirsty, and there was a case where a boy was sent to juvenile prison for stealing a pot of soup from a neighbor's shack while he had no parents and was emaciated from lack of food.
Bianca said:
on Wednesday 27-Nov-13 10:31 AM
This I think would be helpful however like Nicolle says, what is the guarantee that it is accurately predicting human nature and behavior. I vote to be safe, we keep all offenders in prison to serve the time for their offences. I know that our prisons have limited space but there must be some way of detaining all the "rubbish".
Anjelica said:
on Wednesday 27-Nov-13 10:19 AM
They should start using that system in S.A. Criminals repeatedly do the same crimes over and over because they know in jail they have food and a place to sleep, not even caring about the damage they've done to people who were affected by their crimes. Jail should not be a good experience for anyone.
Ashleigh said:
on Wednesday 27-Nov-13 10:00 AM
I really think its a good system to have in all countries. Especially in South Africa where criminals would do the same act as soon as they are released because going to Jail is like their second home and they don't mind or care. The sad part of this is how a family is affected by the stupidity of letting that criminal be released.
Lucretia said:
on Wednesday 27-Nov-13 09:39 AM
Stats show that 60% of serious offenders, when released, commit a similar crime within a year. That is a scary statistic particularly when it comes to rapists, murderers and child molesters. This is 60% over and above those who have not yet been caught. In my opinion, let the punishment fit the crime - then release them and see if they commit the same crime again. I would like to "generalise" and say NO.
Nicolle said:
on Wednesday 27-Nov-13 09:23 AM
I don't know. They may find the data to be accurate but can a programme really predict human nature? Each individual being so uniquely different in thought and action, that even when including the unique facts and circumstances to that case it may be incorrect. Humans are unpredictable and attempting to calculating probabilities, in my opinion, especially in regards to criminal offences is risky.
Zelda said:
on Wednesday 27-Nov-13 09:18 AM
I agree that there should be a system like that one, implemented in South-Africa, because in most cases the one who committed the crime, gets bail and then after a month or so, gets arrested for the same crime they were in jail for the first time.
Jessica said:
on Wednesday 27-Nov-13 09:17 AM
That is amazing, yes we definitely need that in South Africa because they are releasing too many criminals just to re-arrest the same criminals.
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
