ProPublica Analysis Finds COMPAS Recidivism Risk Assessment Algorithm Biased Against Black Offenders

A recent analysis of the Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions (COMPAS) recidivism risk assessment tool found that the algorithm may be biased against Black offenders. Scores that incorrectly indicated high risk of recidivism were twice as common among Black defendants than among White defendants. Scores that incorrectly indicated low-risk of recidivism were more common among White defendants than Black defendants. For all offenders, the risk assessment prediction score correctly predicted an offender’s recidivism 61% of the time. However, predictions of violent recidivism were correct only 20% of the time.

These findings were reported in "How We . . .