Justice Or Just Code? Envisioning Criminal Justice in AI-Driven Law Enforcement Through The Lens Of Ethics And Morality
Deeksha Dewangan
DOI:
Abstract
The deployment of Artificial Intelligence in criminal justice systems is arguably one of the most significant technological changes in the 21st century. AI is gradually transforming the entire spectrum of law enforcement in how it identifies, targets, and processes individuals. The technologies include predictive policing algorithms, facial recognition surveillance, and automated risk assessment tools that significantly affect bail and sentencing decisions. Proponents tout these technologies as capable of delivering efficiency, objectivity, and improved crime-fighting results on a scale never before imaginable. However, several fundamental questions about the technology remain in the eyes of the critics, especially concerning algorithmic bias, violations of the right to a fair trial, privacy infringements, and dehumanisation of the concept of justice. This paper takes an in-depth look at the use of Artificial Intelligence in criminal justice from the perspectives of both ethics and morality. It employs well-established philosophical concepts such as Rawlsian justice, deontological ethics, and utilitarian theory to assess whether algorithmic systems are able to bring about justice or only serve to perpetuate and worsen existing social inequalities in a coded form. Moreover, it discusses the revolutionary prospective role of AI in justice systems, considering its advantages against its ethical threats, and sets out a model for ethical regulation. The paper ends by arguing that justice, as a moral and social institution, cannot be equated with computational logic without intentional ethical considerations, participatory design, and strong democratic control.
Keywords
Artificial Intelligence, Criminal Justice, Algorithmic Bias, Predictive Policing, Ethics, Morality, Facial Recognition