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posted by martyb on Wednesday February 20 2019, @11:20PM   Printer-friendly
from the things-"inside"-change-you dept.

He Committed Murder. Then He Graduated From an Elite Law School. Would You Hire Him as Your Attorney?

Last September, a group of academics and activists gathered at Princeton University to discuss the limits of artificial intelligence in public policy. The longest debate concerned some of the most sensitive decisions in the justice system, like whether to release a person on bail or parole. Many in attendance were queasy about using algorithms to determine prison stays — not least because crime data tends to reflect racial bias. But one conference goer in particular stood out for his skepticism.

His name was Bruce Reilly. The deputy director of a New Orleans organization called VOTE, which advocates for the formerly incarcerated, Mr. Reilly is a minor celebrity in the field. He was a sounding board for the leader of the recent Florida ballot campaign that restored voting rights to up to 1.4 million former felons, and helped lead similar initiatives in Rhode Island and Louisiana. Mr. Reilly, 45, has playful eyes, weathered skin and a boyish voice, and at Princeton, he wore a dark blazer that did not appear to be his natural uniform. Though it was barely midmorning, his shirt was already threatening to decamp from his pants as he turned to address a Princeton postdoctoral researcher sitting next to him.

"Statistically," Mr. Reilly told her, "the safest person to let out of prison is a murderer." The academic, Madelyn Sanfilippo, screwed up her face in apparent disbelief. "You seem like a person who cares about statistics," Mr. Reilly continued, arguing that people convicted of lesser crimes often cycle in and out of prison, while someone serving a long sentence for murder has typically matured out of crime by the time he is released.

"That makes sense," Ms. Sanfilippo said, warming to the claim. They talked amiably for a few more minutes. When they were done, Mr. Reilly turned and whispered in my ear: "She has no idea."

Related: Virginia Court Overturns Order That Restored Voting Rights to Felons
Florida Voting Rights Restoration Process Found Unconstitutional


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  • (Score: 4, Funny) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Thursday February 21 2019, @01:54AM (2 children)

    by MichaelDavidCrawford (2339) Subscriber Badge <mdcrawford@gmail.com> on Thursday February 21 2019, @01:54AM (#804327) Homepage Journal

    - on planes.

    That is, if there really _is_ a Bomb on the plan that you're flying it, the likelihood of there being _two_ bombs is so vanishingly small it might as well be zero.

    So if you want to avoid being blown up by some White Aryan Nation enthusiast who would otherwise bring a bomb on your plane, while Anderson didn't specifically point this out, what you really want is for _your_ bomb to be carried on board before the one carried on by that White Supremacist.

    So just always fly first class when you bring your bomb and you'll be just fine.

    --
    Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
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  • (Score: 3, Touché) by RamiK on Thursday February 21 2019, @04:51AM

    by RamiK (1813) on Thursday February 21 2019, @04:51AM (#804379)

    Here's how the pros do it:

    Folks, there never been a single person, man, woman or child, who died on a plane, boat, or in fact, in any sort of way, after sending me their crypto wallets' keys. Even their dogs lived on safely and comfortably in bliss. Not ever knowing pain, discomfort, disease, old age or even death!

    Immortality. Right here. For you. For your loved ones. G-u-a-r-a-n-t-e-e-d.

    Yours and forever,
    RamiK
    sendmoneytoramik@fakemail.com

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    compiling...
  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 21 2019, @10:35PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 21 2019, @10:35PM (#804749)

    Who is Laurie Anderson? Because that is a VERY old mathematics joke.

    Same with how the mathematician was arrested trying to board a plane with a protractor, ruler, and compass. He was carrying weapons of math instruction.