From selecting the stories that pop up in our Facebook feeds to deciding whether we’ll get a loan, artificial intelligence algorithms make countless choices that influence our lives. Now, they’re permeating courtroom judgments. In some jurisdictions, “risk assessment” algorithms help determine sentences for those convicted of crimes. And increasingly, similar algorithms are being used in the beginning stages of the criminal justice process, where they have a hand in deciding where a person will spend their time before trial — at home or in jail.
Capital News Service
Bail reform hasn’t led to fewer held in jail, court records show
More defendants are being held without bail, according to data from the Maryland Judiciary, because the number of defendants held without bail has increased — despite bail reform that intended to let more people remain free before trial.
With new plan on pause, Ellicott City business owners feel stuck
The decision by Howard County Executive Calvin Ball to tap the brakes on the plan to demolish buildings comes amidst a broader debate over how Ellicott City can maintain its historic atmosphere and still protect itself against future disasters.
Md. lawmakers look to ban untraceable guns in next session
With about a month until the 2019 legislature convenes on Jan. 9, the new Democratic House of Delegates majority leader is looking to continue the progress made last session on gun violence prevention by banning 3D and ghost guns in the state. House Majority Leader Kathleen Dumais, D-Montgomery, said she will be introducing a bill banning the possession of 3D-printed guns — plastic guns capable of shooting live ammunition and made in a 3D printer — and ghost guns — nearly complete and without serial numbers — in Maryland. Federal law already prohibits the creation of untraceable guns.
Md. lawmakers demand answers from regents over football decisions
Lawmakers on Thursday admonished the chancellor and chair of the University System of Maryland Board of Regents for the panel’s lack of transparency and overreach in a controversial decision to retain the University of Maryland, College Park football coach and athletic director, while accepting the university president’s resignation.
Five graphics show Hogan’s victory by the numbers
Gov. Larry Hogan picked up a greater proportion of the vote in every county than he did in 2014. Voter turnout increased in every county. The Republican governor got a greater proportion of those new votes and also pulled in non-Republican voters. He got a greater proportion of early votes, too.
AG Frosh’s broad legal power: Partisanship or ‘long overdue’?
The Maryland General Assembly gave Attorney General Brian Frosh broad authority to sue the federal government in 2017, and he has used it aggressively. Is it just partisan pursuit of President Trump or were the expansive powers just catching up with what AGs in most states are permitted to do?
Hogan spends big on campaign ads; Jealous holds off
As expensive ads in favor of Republican incumbent Gov. Larry Hogan went out on Maryland television channels this week, his Democratic challenger, former NAACP President Ben Jealous, has yet to respond with his own TV spots.
Steam line repair project means changes on Lawyers Mall
Statues of Thurgood Marshall and three companions are being sent away from Lawyers Mall in Annapolis as part of a renovation project that will close the mall in 2019.
Plea Deals Part 3: Police crimes hidden in secrecy
Evidence of corruption by Baltimore City Sgt. Wayne Jenkins and others lay just below the surface in Baltimore’s criminal justice system for years. Defendants’ allegations rarely made it to open court, leaving the isolated few that did to founder.
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