Predictive policing, a popular law enforcement technique that uses data to predict crime locations, may not be as effective as previously believed, according to a new study by The Markup and Wired. The investigation focused on the city of Plainfield, New Jersey, and found that the crime prediction software used by the police department, Geolitica, had a success rate of less than half a percent in accurately predicting crime locations. Captain David Guarino of the Plainfield Police Department admitted that the software did not help reduce crime and that it was not used frequently. This study adds to previous investigations that have raised concerns about the potential biases of predictive policing software. The future of Geolitica is uncertain, as it is reportedly planning to cease operations by the end of the year.
https://gizmodo.com/predictive-policing-cops-law-enforcement-predpol-1850893951