“Predictive Policing” Algorithm Creates a Dystopian Nightmare for Residents of This Town

When the Institute for Justice filed suit against the so-called predictive policing program in Pasco County, Florida, the Sheriff’s Office issued a statement saying that their program is not “in any way, shape or form the ideals or implementations projected in the film ‘Minority Report.'" But in this episode of Deep Dive, we discuss the chilling reality of a program that targets residents for possible future crimes based on a crude algorithm, as well as the program’s myriad constitutional violations and IJ’s lawsuit to end it.

Host: Melanie Hildreth
Guests: IJ Senior Attorney Robert Johnson and IJ Attorney Ari Bargil.

Hear about the cases, issues, and tactics advancing IJ’s fight for freedom—directly from the people on the front lines. Deep Dive with the Institute for Justice explores the legal theories, strategies, and methods IJ uses to bring about real world change, expanding individual liberty and ending abuses of government power. Each episode gives listeners an in-depth, inside look at how—and why—we do what we do.

[JJones]

As a retired, law abiding citizen approaching 70 with a completely clean criminal record, I find this outrageous and infuriating. The gradual erosion of individual liberty I’ve witnessed during my lifetime so far is apparent as we’re all like the frog in the pot. How far will police go to destroy a person’s life if you don’t bend your knee before them? We the people must insist that law enforcement intervene where crime occurs and not create criminals based on pretext followed by malicious prosecution. When a person is harassed to the point where his life and finances are ruined, there’s a risk of turning that person into a person with nothing to lose. A person with nothing to lose is a very dangerous person. The scariest part is that this POS sheriff feels completely justified in his abuse of power.

[epimetheaus]

That's not a Sherriff's office, that's a terrorist cell.

[bikkiikun]

“Predictive Policing” = wasting time and resources, committing violent crime and helping actual crime to go unpunished.

[kristinmeyer]

I've been a target for decades, and I had wanted to go to law school because I used to believe in JUSTICE before all the injustices against ME. These are PREDATORS. I hope you are successful at suing these creeps BECAUSE THIS ABUSE IS CRIMINAL.

[Krynos]

"It's an attractive idea to law enforcement" because it makes it easier to keep the for profit prisons full

[ptaylor]

I've always backed the Blue, but quite frankly it sounds like the Sheriff needs to be removed from office and he and his deputies prosecuted.

[patriciareid]

it's easy to predict who will offend, they wear badges.

[xerxes]

I see a future "investigation" by the police, of themselves, finding NO wrong doing.

[markhonea]

Those baseless charges are exactly why that young man should become a lawyer!

[crypticnomad]

I am a developer who switched my main focus a few years back to mostly machine learning and statistical analysis. The keywords "predictive policing", "algorithm", "dystopian" really peaked my interest. I honestly was expecting this to be a case of a biased dataset being used to train an ultimately biased algorithm. We are going to have systemic issues going forward from people trusting these biased models more than they should. This was even worse than I had expected and was an algorithm, using that word is being extremely generous, that could have been thought up by a total noob. When he said it was like half minority report and half dumb and dumber he nailed it.

[marc-andreservant]

"Hi, I'm from the government and I'm here to help"
Translation: "Hi, I'm trying to justify my job's continued existence. I might have decent intentions but I am such an incompetent fool that I don't even know what a constitutional right even is."

[scottfricke]

Completely undeniably unconstitutional. Sue them for everything you can on the behalf of everyone on the list. Give us the follow up.

[IVespidI]

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety"

-Benjamin Franklin

[Raven-eppq]

They should make the same algorithm for corrupted cop that abuse their power.

[jimham]

I'm surprised that there was no mention of the State of Florida Constitution Article 1 Section 23" Right of privacy. -- Every natural person has the right to be let alone and free from government intrusion into person's private

[ghblues]

Shock horror, authoritative power is given for a "good reason" and is then abused.
Then it's almost impossible to remove the power.
Every freaking time.

[sanansa]

It's really nothing new. Before technology, in the past police would just profile based on "how you look", and that may include your ethnicity/race, and they would just cast a wide net, and stop anyone that looked 'suspcious". It could just be a car bumper sticker, etc (my favorite is the man that had an ultimate frisbee sticker, and the officer accused him of having marijuana in the vehicle, just based on that alone). And it's very easy to find an excuse to pull someone over (not staying in your lane, failed to come to a complete stop, driving too slow for the pace of traffic, etc.). I am white, and have been stopped at least 3 times over the years, just based on suspicion. But that is 3 times in 30 years of driving and each time I was just out for a ride and in a very relaxed state of mind (no time pressure). I very rarely go out anymore. So I can imagine how oppressive it would be for a minority that lives in a city, and they might get stopped 3 times a month, just based on "suspicion"... imagine being late to work, or being late picking up your kid from school from this happening on a regular basis (and having to tell your boss, or school why you are late).

[reighniz]

This is sick. Those who perpetuate such a system are criminals and need to be put in prison forever.

[williambarnes]

“I have nothing to say “ “I don’t answer questions “, and keep doors and windows locked 🔒

[gingern]

The only piece of joy I can get is KNOWING the people who have enforced this WILL suffer from this IS enough to get me through.