On September 3, 2019, the Brennan Center sent a letter to the Director of the National Institute of Justice expressing our views on PATTERN, the First Step Act’s Risk and Needs Assessment Tool. The letter details three key concerns with the tool, specifically around the definition of recidivism, the potential for creating significant racial disparities, and a perceived undervaluing of dynamic factors.
Statement
Brennan Center’s Public Comment on the First Step Act’s Risk and Needs Assessment Tool
The Brennan Center submitted a public comment to the National Institute of Justice detailing our concerns with PATTERN, the First Step Act’s Risk and Needs Assessment Tool.
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