ETHICAL AND LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

AI technologies are swiftly changing several aspects of the criminal justice system, such as police, sentencing, and incarceration. Facial recognition, risk assessments, predictive policing, and parole decisions are benefiting from the use of advanced algorithms and predictive analytics technologies. Advocates emphasise the advantages of AI in facilitating data-driven analysis to enhance public safety results and operational effectiveness. Nevertheless, the use of obscure algorithms in choices that affect individuals' freedoms gives rise to significant ethical and legal problems that need thorough scrutiny. Multiple studies have uncovered instances of inherent racial, gender, and other biases in AI systems, which result in discriminatory outcomes and worsen the existing disparities within the criminal justice system. Concerns also exist around the adherence to proper legal procedures, openness, and responsibility in the process of AI decision-making. AI prediction algorithms rely on historical data of human judgements, potentially impacted by bias or injustice. The algorithm's suggestions replicate past patterns of prejudice. The inherent proprietary nature of commercial AI technologies also gives rise to a black box issue, making it difficult to conduct audits for biassed results.