University of Virginia, School of Law

The University of Virginia (University) is a public institution of higher learning guided by a founding vision of discovery, innovation, and development of the full potential of talented students from all walks of life. It serves the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world by developing responsible citizen leaders and professionals; advancing, preserving, and disseminating knowledge; and providing world-class patient care. The award supports the continuation of the University’s research on pretrial risk assessment instruments and their impact on reducing jail incarceration and racial and ethnic disparities. The project addresses an important issue in the Safety and Justice Challenge by analyzing the use of these instruments in the criminal justice field and the need for transparency and accountability in decision making.   

The University of Virginia School of Law (UVA Law) is considered among the nation’s top legal education institutions. The award supports UVA Law to continue to lead a project focused on the use of quantitative risk assessment instruments (RAIs) in pretrial decision-making. The project partners include Upturn, a technology policy group concerned with equity and fairness in the use of quantitative decision-making tools, and Human Rights Data Analysis Group, an organization with experience in using statistics and machine learning algorithms to promote accountability in human rights violations in the U.S. and abroad. The award supports data collection from Safety and Justice Challenge Network sites and empirical research to determine how risk tools calculate and communicate risk information to key justice system agency stakeholders and whether modifications in the process can improve decision-making and lead to better racial equity outcomes. The project addresses an emerging issue in the Safety and Justice Challenge: the lack of an interdisciplinary forum to understand the impact of RAIs within the criminal justice field and the need for transparency and accountability in decision-making.

The University of Virginia School of Law (UVA Law) is considered among the nation’s top legal education institutions, and is particularly known for its research and programs through the Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy. The award supports UVA Law to lead a collaborative project focused on the current state of quantitative risk assessment instruments in criminal justice; standards and best practices in their development, implementation, and application; and the research gaps in knowledge and understanding about their use in the field. The project partners include Upturn, a technology policy group concerned with fairness and equity in the use of quantitative decision making tools; and Human Rights Data Analysis Group, an organization with experience in using statistics and machine learning algorithms to promote accountability in human rights violations in the United States and abroad. The project addresses an emerging issue in the Safety and Justice Challenge: the lack of an interdisciplinary forum to understand the impact of new tools and emerging technologies within the criminal justice field and the need for transparency and accountability in decision making.

To support the Research Network on Mandated Community Treatment benefit-cost projects (over two years).

To support participation in the Network on Mandated Community Treatment (over three years).