AI In Criminal Justice: Can Algorithms Decide Guilt?
- IJLLR Journal
- Jul 29
- 1 min read
Shravani Joshi, BA LLB, Yashwantrao Chavan Government Law College, Pune, Maharashtra
Madhura Kulkarni, BA LLB, Yashwantrao Chavan Government Law College, Pune, Maharashtra
ABSTRACT
This paper critically examines the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the criminal justice system, with a focus on its implications for fairness, transparency, and constitutional due process. AI technologies such as predictive policing, risk assessment tools, facial recognition, and crime mapping are increasingly deployed to enhance efficiency and data-driven decision-making in investigations and trials.
While these tools offer potential benefits including speed, accuracy, and reduced bias; their use also raises significant legal and ethical concerns. The “black box” nature of algorithms undermines the accused’s right to a fair trial and presumption of innocence by producing opaque, unchallengeable outcomes. Moreover, AI-driven surveillance and profiling pose risks to privacy and may reinforce systemic biases. This paper argues that while AI can serve as a powerful administrative aid in legal research, case management, and clerical functions, its role in core judicial decision-making must remain limited and transparent. The analysis concludes that AI should assist, but never replace, human judgment in criminal adjudication, emphasizing the need for regulatory safeguards, a “right to explanation,” and a human-centered approach to justice.
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Criminal Justice, Risk assessment tools, Black box problem, Human Demeanour, Algorithmic Transparency.
