CHICAGO -- Chicago police say its gang database has been an effective tool to stop violence. A hearing was held Friday calling for more transparency in its use.

After testimony from activists and academics, law enforcement and legal experts, the senators say they have serious concern about the way data is being used in the fight against violent crime.

Illinois State Senator Patricia Van Pelt is concerned that the Chicago Police Department’s so-called “strategic subject list” and gang database both could be tools used for racial profiling.

“This is tearing at the fabric of the community,” she said. “89 percent of African-American men age 20-29 are on that list. That is outrageous. It seems like they’re making a determination at birth who should be on it and who should not.”

Van Pelt held a State Senate Public Health Committee hearing at Malcom X College to assess the impact on the city’s minority populations.

The list is an algorithm that takes a series of factors like previous arrests, gang affiliations and other public records. Then it produces a score.

“If you continue your criminal activity and continue to be involved in crime, it’s obvious that it’s going to increase the likelihood that you, yourself either might be an offender or victim in a future violent crime,” said Jonathan Lewin, Deputy Chief of Technology and Records.

Lewin spoke with WGN News about the list last year. He says the strategic subject score can predict a person’s likelihood to commit a crime.

“It’s basically zero up to what we call 500-plus.”

State Senator Mattie Hunter says the lack of transparency creates serious concerns.

“What are they doing with the data? How are they using the data? That’s what I’d like to know.”

Police say they don't target people based on race, religion, gender or geography. Police say they don’t use the information to until a crime has actually been committed.

“I don’t believe they’re using it after a crime is committed,” Van Pelt said. “It’s not something they’re using after the crime. It’s something they’re leading with.”

“It’s not about us targeting them for arrest, our goal is to get them out of that lifestyle so we don’t have to arrest them,” Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said.

After today’s hearing the ACLU of Illinois called for a more open system saying a statement:

“Such transparency would include, for example, proactively releasing the number of individuals

LINK: http://wgntv.com/2018/04/20/he...icago-gang-database/


Interesting. I wonder if the complainants have heard about Facebook and You Tube??

So keeping a list of violent gang-bangers is racial profiling?

Portland had to stop making a list as well.

http://www.oregonlive.com/port...ond_list_to_tra.html

Which makes one wonder what the gang team will do.

Would keeping a list of mafia in the 30s be racial profiling

It's not the cops who are "making the choice of who goes on the list," it is the individuals who choose to participate in gang behavior.

So, assuming that this is what qualifies the list as racist, who, exactly, are the racists here?

"Criminal profiling" does not seem to register with the libs

I'm not sure who has the dumbest politicians. Illinois or California.

Maybe the demographic these people feel is over represented in the data should try reducing its likelihood to be involved in crimes.

That's my solution. It isn't racist to monitor people who commit crimes, nor is it racist to calculate the probability people convicted of crimes will commit additional crimes.

quote:

Originally posted by Hamden106:
Would keeping a list of mafia in the 30s be racial profiling

Obviously not, since those were mostly white people.

Political Correctness is the downfall of America.

Look for them to start trying this with warrant databases too. A large percentage of the makeup of warrant databases are their constituents. I would not be a bit surprised if you don't start seeing calls to shut down NCIC and other information databases as well because of racial "tension", which is defined as whatever makes them money.

quote:

Political Correctness is the downfall of America.

Yeah. I am REALLY sick of it. Does not change a thing. I am hoping it will pass. I think the election indicated that a good portion of the American public feels that way.

quote:

Originally posted by Bulldog7972:
I'm not sure who has the dumbest politicians. Illinois or California.

It would be a tight race for sure. Maybe semantics, I might suggest it is more a lack of ethics than a lack of intelligence.

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:
Look for them to start trying this with warrant databases too. A large percentage of the makeup of warrant databases are their constituents. I would not be a bit surprised if you don't start seeing calls to shut down NCIC and other information databases as well because of racial "tension", which is defined as whatever makes them money.

Good point and a real possibility

quote:

Originally posted by Scoutmaster:

quote:

Originally posted by Bulldog7972:
I'm not sure who has the dumbest politicians. Illinois or California.

It would be a tight race for sure. Maybe semantics, I might suggest it is more a lack of ethics than a lack of intelligence.

You are probably right. They are doing exactly what they need to do to get/keep their constituients out of jail.

quote:

Originally posted by Bulldog7972:
I'm not sure who has the dumbest politicians. Illinois or California.

I've lived in both Cal and IL. They're competing to outdo each other.

Goodness forbid they go against the people who put them in office. Why should they allow it if it doesn't get them elected again? Another reason the left is sick.

But keeping a list of gunowners is ok. e.g. registration of certain rifles etc.

And, keeping a list of CCW permit holders for those places without constitutional carry is somehow ok.

Means it was working so it's racist and should be stopped.

And Chicago just keeps getting better. Rahm's voters are on the increase. The town just gets more just and peaceful. Oh, and watch out for muggings downtown and carjackings. While making society fairer, it's still a mild inconvenience to the deserving victims.

It's a well established feeling; numbers are racist.
.