Pretrial Risk Assessment: Disparate Impact of Risk Assessments

Drs. Gina Vincent and Spencer Lawson recently published a brief and podcast related to their research on Pretrial Risk Assessment: Behavioral Health and Racial Equity, a partnership study with the Policy Research Associates.

New research shows that risk assessment instruments do not increase racial disparities—and in some cases, they may even help reduce them.

Why It Matters: This research provides essential insights for policymakers and practitioners considering using risk assessments to reduce disparities and improve fairness in criminal legal decision-making.