Update on Evidence Based Decision Making
October 2015
More than ever, a criminal defendant faced with taking COMPAS evaluation, should consult a criminal defense attorney. Eau Claire County and Chippewa County have adopted a novel program which in some instances requires a criminal defendant to take a COMPAS evaluation. In other instances, pressure may be applied to a criminal defendant to take a COMPAS evalution in order to be considered for more lenient plea deals.
A criminal defendant should be aware that the COMPAS evaluation is currently under review by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Questions have been raised about the COMPAS evaluation and the inquiries it makes of criminal defendants. One of the inquiries the COMPAS evalution makes is the defendant's gender. The defendant's gender is then used in an algorithm to determine a person's risk. The use of gender by a government entity to make classifications can be inappropriate.
If you have been charged with a crime, you want Herrick & Hart on your side. We assist the accused by taking them through the complicated criminal justice process and assertng their rights every step of the way.