When the Cure Becomes a Poison: Reevaluating Algorithmic Risk Assessment and Its Impact on Individual Rights and Public Safety
Presenter: Jonasz Szpoton
Date: 12 May 2026 at 13:00 CEST
Location: Oficinas ELLIS Alicante, Muelle Pte., 5 – Edificio A, Alicante 03001, Alicante ES
Online: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/35434414391076?p=l50IsSaEkU5frGvDti
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Abstract
While AI rapidly expands into the criminal justice domain, its implementation remains a double-edged sword. Tools designed to protect individuals against discrimination and increase public safety can paradoxically undermine their goals, turning a supposed 'cure' for human bias into a 'poison' that boosts discrimination and recidivism rates. The presentation evaluates the dangers of current penitentiary risk assessment tools and proposes solutions to overcome them. The goal is to chart a safer path forward, making the most out of algorithmic assessment while recognizing it as the inevitable future of legal decision-making.
Bio
Jonasz is a PhD student at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn. He holds a Master’s degree in Law and a postgraduate diploma in Data Engineering. His research lies at the intersection of legal ethics and data science, with a focus on the use of machine learning and Big Data to improve fairness and accuracy in legal decision-making.