Which Offenders To Release? Police Turning To Software

INDIANAPOLIS -- Software will soon analyze arrestees' histories and other data to help the Marion County Sheriff's Department determine which are the best candidates for release to ease jail overcrowding.

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Video: Software To Debut By Aug. 1

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The Compas software also is designed to help authorities identify which rehabilitation and treatment steps can be taken. The department expects to start using the program by Aug. 1, RTV6's Jack Rinehart reported Thursday.

"It is changing the way we do our entire business in Marion County, and it will have an impact on everyone," said Donna Edgar of the Marion County Justice Agency.

Screeners using the software will enter data about arrestees -- some of the information will supplied by the arrestees themselves. The program will analyze criminal histories and crime severity, apply the information to a national database, and predict arrestees' levels of risk.

The program will help authorities decide which people should be released, kept in jail, placed on home detention, put on work release, and so on, Rinehart reported.

Collected data will be kept throughout the arrestees' lives. Some of the questions involved during the screening process -- including queries about drug use and gang affiliation -- worry Dave Cook, the county's chief public defender.

Cook said he believes some areas of inquiry could violate an arrestee's constitutional rights.

"Many of the questions are intended by one group of people for devising services and treatments, but can be used by law enforcement for quite a different matter," Cook said.