Data Cop Out

Weather, moon phases, locations of schools and churches -- these are all factors considered in predictive policing, a practice of analyzing crime data and uncovering patterns that may give patrol officers a leg up. Nowadays, predictive policing is powered by expensive and privately developed software, which is used by more than 150 police department across the country. While media outlets and police celebrate lower crime rates, critics argue that programs like HunchLab may not be able to claim responsibility -- especially considering very little research exists on their efficacy. Deb speaks with The Marshall Project’s Maurice Chammah, who isn't convinced HunchLab works. He visited Jennings, Missouri, a city neighboring Ferguson, to find out whether this supposedly unbiased software is really helping law enforcement do their jobs.