The White House is using data analytics to cut jail population

The White House has announced a new initiative that employs data analytics to help communities like San Francisco and Oakland reduce the local jail population.

The Data-Driven Justice program is a coalition of 67 city, county, and state governments that have pledged to incorporate data-driven approaches into their law-enforcement programs. The initiative will help identify people suffering from mental health problems who need treatment, not a jail cell. It also aims to reduce the number of those incarcerated while awaiting trial by identifying low-level offenders who pose little danger to the community — but are only in jail because they can’t afford to post bail.

“What we’ve seen, as we’ve engaged state and local leaders across the country, is there are people who simply do not deserve to be in our jails,” said Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to President Obama.

Sixty-seven state and local governments have committed to participate in the program and use data-driven strategies to cut their jail populations. According to the White House, 11 million people churn through local jail systems each year, costing municipalities a staggering $22 billion. Some 64 percent of those incarcerated suffer from mental illness and even more — 68 percent — suffer from substance abuse.

There are personal costs as well. Time spent in jail waiting for a court appearance can translate into paychecks lost, rent payments missed, or time with family gone. Many of the people in America’s jails would be better served elsewhere, such as addiction-treatment programs or mental-health facilities.

Tech companies including Amazon, Palantir, RapidSOS and RTI are also part of the initiative. Amazon Web Services, for example, will provide a secure platform for exchanging information. RapidSOS will help law enforcement locate people when they call 911 from their cellphones.