United States of AI Ethical Policy - Justice by Design: Reimagining Criminal Justice in the Age of AI

A Civic Brief from Future in Common

Part of the series: “The United States of AI: An Ethical Policy Platform for American Workers”

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What This Brief Covers:

AI is already embedded in our criminal justice system—from risk assessment tools to facial recognition. But when biased data meets opaque algorithms, injustice is automated at scale.

This civic brief unpacks how AI is reshaping policing, sentencing, and surveillance—and what it would take to build a justice system that’s truly just. It invites readers to imagine a future where technology supports restoration, not punishment.

What You’ll Learn:

• How AI is used in law enforcement, courts, and incarceration

• The risks of racial bias, faulty data, and algorithmic secrecy

• People-centered alternatives rooted in dignity, transparency, and care

• Policy and community strategies to reclaim justice in the AI era

Who It’s For:

• Criminal justice reformers and legal advocates

• Civic educators and local officials

• Tech ethicists and data practitioners

• Anyone seeking safer, fairer, and more accountable systems

Why It Matters:

Without intervention, AI will deepen the very disparities our justice system should be working to repair. But with democratic oversight and ethical design, we can use these tools to advance safety, accountability, and human dignity. This brief offers a roadmap for justice that includes us all.