Who Should Get Parole?

Even the best risk assessments yield probabilities, not certainties. That means they label as “high risk” some people who won't commit another crime and label as “low risk” some people who will. This simulation lets you sort offenders into risk categories based on the results of an assessment. Think we should rarely lock up anyone who wouldn’t reoffend? Set the “low risk” threshold high and the “high risk” threshold even higher. Have little tolerance for recidivism? Try the opposite. In the real world, policymakers have to strike a balance. Read more »