Dangerousness, algorithms and due process: the case State vs. Looms

Abstract

The contemporary tendency towards replacing the old notion of dangerousness by the risk assessment approach, that began in the correctional settings, is reaching other stages of the criminal justice, particularly the sentencing phase. Presenting itself as an evidence-based practice (evidence-based sentencing), it promotes introducing structured risk assessments in sentencing in order to help the judge impose the penalty that best prevents recidivism. This paper critically examines one of the first State Supreme Court decisions in the USA that has had to face the problems posed by this approach, and especially the following: is it compatible with due process rights to impose an enhanced sentence based on the risk assessment made by a secret algorithm, the details of which are not disclosed to the defendant due to its proprietary nature?