Georgia Tech and the State Board of Pardons and Paroles are partnering to enhance public safety.
The goal of the collaboration is to improve offender outcomes. While Georgia’s parole success rate is among the nation’s leaders and well above the national average, the agency is looking to improve.
“The Parole Board in Georgia is not simply satisfied with being among the leaders in parole success,” stated Chris Barnett, Executive Director of Parole. “Each additional success means improved public safety.”
Scientists at Georgia Tech are working with subject matter experts at the State Board of Pardons and Paroles on the project.
"We are engaged in a joint research project with Georgia Tech to determine factors among similarly situated individuals that will lead to success. This research will help us determine what specific preconditions to parole and post release conditions will result in the best possible chance of an individual being successful," says Barnett.
It is anticipated, there may be hundreds of different variables examined to determine their impact on the success of an individual.
Once these variables or factors have been identified, a scientific assessment tool will be developed by Georgia Tech utilizing the statistically significant variables. The new assessment tool will be an intuitive, learning instrument. Additional case data in “real-time” will be calculated and used to adjust the underlying algorithms, meaning the system itself will improve daily and lead to greater parolee successes with greater predictability by the Board and enhanced public safety.
"If we can identify factors that may hinder parole success and eliminate them, more success will be realized and public safety benefits," states Barnett. Current successful assessment tools will continue to be used by the Parole Board.
"Georgia Tech is the perfect partner. It is among the leaders nationwide regarding research. By utilizing the experienced and skilled Georgia Tech staff, this project will undoubtedly be successful resulting in a safer Georgia," Barnett adds.
The Future of Predicting
parole success
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(This revised article is printed with the original publication's and author's permission.
Please see original article in the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police Newsletter; see "Partners in Public Safety")