Blind Charging / How it works

Blind charging starts when a prosecutor receives a crime report from a local law enforcement agency.

For example, imagine Anytown Police Department sends this crime report to their local prosecutor.

Our blind charging algorithm takes this report and identifies any narratives contained in the report.

Next, our algorithm extracts this text and begins the redaction process.

Lucy Johnson reported that a Black male with brown hair wearing a black jacket assaulted her in Midtown, next to Lucy Johnson’s home. She reported the incident to Officer Lee. . .

Our algorithm starts by looking for explicit mentions of race or physical descriptions, replacing them with generic placeholders.

Lucy Johnson reported that a Blackmale with brown hairwearing a black jacket assaulted her in Midtown, next to Lucy Johnson’s home. She reported the incident to Officer Lee. . .

Lucy Johnson reported that a[race/ethnicity 1] male with[hair color] wearing a black jacket assaulted her in Midtown, next to Lucy Johnson’s home. She reported the incident to Officer Lee. . .

Next, our algorithm identifies people’s names, and redacts those as well, adding a role and counter to uniquely identify each person involved.

Lucy Johnsonreported that a[race/ethnicity 1]male with[hair color]wearing a black jacket assaulted her in Midtown, next toJohnson’shome. She reported the incident toOfficer Lee.

[Victim 1]reported that a[race/ethnicity 1]male with [hair color]wearing a black jacket assaulted her in Midtown, next to[Victim 1’s]home. She reported the incident to[Officer 1].

Finally, our algorithm searches for any location information, including addresses and neighborhoods, and redacts that too.

[Victim 1]reported that a[race/ethnicity 1]male with [hair color]wearing a black jacket assaulted her inMidtown, next to[Victim 1’s]home. She reported the incident to[Officer 1].

[Victim 1]reported that a[race/ethnicity 1]male with [hair color]wearing a black jacket assaulted her in[neighborhood 1], next to[Victim 1’s]home. She reported the incident to[Officer 1].

When our algorithm is done, prosecutors read this redacted narrative.

[Victim 1]reported that a[race/ethnicity 1]male with [hair color]wearing a black jacket assaulted her in[neighborhood 1], next to[Victim 1’s]home. She reported the incident to[Officer 1].

And record a race-blind decision about whether to file charges on the case.

Very likely decline

Probably decline

Probably charge

Very likely charge

Once the race-blind decision is recorded, prosecutors review all materials (including photos and videos) and make a final decision about whether to file charges.

If they change their mind after reviewing this evidence, they have to explain why.

Blind charging starts when a prosecutor receives a crime report from a local law enforcement agency.

For example, imagine Anytown Police Department sends this crime report to their local prosecutor.

Our blind charging algorithm takes this report and identifies any narratives contained in the report.

Next, our algorithm extracts this text and begins the redaction process.

Lucy Johnson reported that a Black male with brown hair wearing a black jacket assaulted her in Midtown, next to Lucy Johnson’s home. She reported the incident to Officer Lee. . .

Our algorithm starts by looking for explicit mentions of race or physical descriptions,

Lucy Johnson reported that a Blackmale with brown hairwearing a black jacket assaulted her in Midtown, next to Lucy Johnson’s home. She reported the incident to Officer Lee. . .

replacing them with generic placeholders.

Lucy Johnson reported that a[race/ethnicity 1] male with[hair color] wearing a black jacket assaulted her in Midtown, next to Lucy Johnson’s home. She reported the incident to Officer Lee. . .

Next, our algorithm identifies people’s names,

Lucy Johnsonreported that a[race/ethnicity 1]male with[hair color]wearing a black jacket assaulted her in Midtown, next toJohnson’shome. She reported the incident toOfficer Lee.

and redacts those as well, adding a role and counter to uniquely identify each person involved.

[Victim 1]reported that a[race/ethnicity 1]male with [hair color]wearing a black jacket assaulted her in Midtown, next to[Victim 1’s]home. She reported the incident to[Officer 1].

Finally, our algorithm searches for any location information, including addresses and neighborhoods,

[Victim 1]reported that a[race/ethnicity 1]male with [hair color]wearing a black jacket assaulted her inMidtown, next to[Victim 1’s]home. She reported the incident to[Officer 1].

and redacts that too.

[Victim 1]reported that a[race/ethnicity 1]male with [hair color]wearing a black jacket assaulted her in[neighborhood 1], next to[Victim 1’s]home. She reported the incident to[Officer 1].

When our algorithm is done, prosecutors read this redacted narrative.

[Victim 1]reported that a[race/ethnicity 1]male with [hair color]wearing a black jacket assaulted her in[neighborhood 1], next to[Victim 1’s]home. She reported the incident to[Officer 1].

And record a race-blind decision about whether to file charges on the case.

Very likely decline

Probably decline

Probably charge

Very likely charge

Once the race-blind decision is recorded, prosecutors review all materials (including photos and videos) and make a final decision about whether to file charges.

If they change their mind after reviewing this evidence, they have to explain why.