Predictive Policing Software Terrible at Predicting Crimes

Geolitica's predictive policing software was right less than half a percent of the time for the Plainfield, New Jersey, police department, according to an analysis by The Markup. Of 23,631 predictions generated between February 25 and December 18, 2018, fewer than 100 lined up with a reported crime of the predicted type in a location not patrolled by Plainfield police. Plainfield captain David Guarino said the department rarely used the software and later dropped it. Geolitica is ceasing operations, and SoundThinking has hired its engineering team and is acquiring some of its intellectual property.