Mitch Smith:

Before his sentencing for his 2013 arrest, Mr. Loomis received a score on the Compas scale that suggested he was at a high risk of committing another crime. He is now serving his six-year sentence, with a possible release in 2019.

After Mr. Loomis appealed his sentence, an appellate court referred the case to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The Wisconsin attorney general’s office has defended the use of the Compas system in assessing risk, saying in court filings that it “has a role at sentencing” and is “individualized to each defendant.”

What is Compas?

Compas is an algorithm developed by a private company, Northpointe Inc., that calculates the likelihood of someone committing another crime and suggests what kind of supervision a defendant should receive in prison. The results come from a survey of the defendant and information about his or her past conduct. Compas assessments are a data-driven complement to the written presentencing reports long compiled by law enforcement agencies.

Much more, here.