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Craft skills and algorithms: Understanding bail decision-making
Citation
Travers, M, Craft skills and algorithms: Understanding bail decision-making, Asian Criminological Society's Annual Conference 2018 Program, 25-27 June 2018, Penang, Malaysia (2018) [Non Refereed Conference Paper]
 | Microsoft Word (“Craft skills and algorithms: Understanding bail decision-making”. Paper presented at the annual conference of the Asian Criminological Society, Penang, Malaysia 25-27th June 2018. ) Pending copyright assessment - Request a copy 150Kb |
Official URL: https://events.mcpfpg.org/acsc2018/
Abstract
Tragic events in Australia such as the Lindt Café siege and the Bourke Street rampage have led to calls to strengthen bail laws. A different approach is being pursued in some US courts that seek to augment judicial decision-making with risk analysis. These initiatives have only had a limited effect in changing criminal courts in Australia, partly because traditional craft skills still have legitimacy. They are perceived, at least among practitioners, as generally resulting in fair outcomes. What is missing from these policy debates has been a close analysis by social scientists of how bail decisions are currently made. Drawing on ethnographic research being conducted in magistrates courts in four Australian states, this paper describes some aspects of judicial decision-making: how judicial officers weigh up factors in applying the law; different approaches among decision-makers; the craft skills involved in ensuring "fair" remands for defendants who re-offend while on bail; and the effect on decision-making of legislation, resources and political pressures. It is suggested that algorithms cannot possibly match the craft skills in making these situated decisions. Nevertheless, if introduced appropriately, such tools may perhaps achieve greater consistency among decision-makers, and confidence in criminal courts.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Non Refereed Conference Paper |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | criminal justice, bail |
| Research Division: | Law and Legal Studies |
| Research Group: | Legal systems |
| Research Field: | Legal institutions (incl. courts and justice systems) |
| Objective Division: | Law, Politics and Community Services |
| Objective Group: | Justice and the law |
| Objective Field: | Legal processes |
| UTAS Author: | Travers, M (Associate Professor Max Travers) |
| ID Code: | 127350 |
| Year Published: | 2018 |
| Deposited By: | Office of the School of Social Sciences |
| Deposited On: | 2018-07-23 |
| Last Modified: | 2018-07-23 |
| Downloads: | 1 View Download Statistics |
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