Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™.
Peter Drucker, the Austrian management consultant whose writings helped shape modern management theory, once said, “If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.” This quote aptly describes the impact of the U.S. Justice Department’s decision to delete the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database. Created under the Biden administration and initially proposed by Donald Trump during his first term, the database was designed to hold federal police accountable for infractions and prevent bad officers from moving between jobs without oversight. By maintaining a record accessible to hiring authorities, the system aimed to improve transparency and accountability. However, the U.S. Justice Department provided no rationale for why it was decommissioned.
The reasoning behind this decision may lie in the leadership of the U.S. Justice Department. Pam Bondi, a former Trump’s campaign official and the first female attorney general of Florida, previously served under Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has a history of opposing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Like many of Trump’s cabinet members, Bondi is seen as a loyalist tasked with rolling back DEI efforts in both public and private sectors.
The relationship between law enforcement and technology took center stage after the 2014 killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO, which led to the widespread expectation that officers wear body cameras to provide an objective record of encounters. However, while body cameras were promising in theory, their effectiveness has been inconsistent in practice. Complaints have surfaced across the country regarding how officers use—or fail to use—their cameras, leading to further erosion of public trust. Fortunately, bystanders with smartphones have helped document incidents in full, countering the selective footage sometimes provided by law enforcement.
Technology’s role in public safety extends beyond law enforcement. Apps like Citizen, formerly known as Vigilante, demonstrate how digital tools can inform the public. Launched in 2016 by Andrew Frame, Citizen allows users to report crimes and alert others in real time. Initially removed from the Apple Store over concerns it could encourage vigilante justice, the app was reintroduced in 2017 with a focus on public safety alerts. It saw exponential growth during the pandemic. I believe that technology can be adopted to help reduce the issues we see in law enforcement and the criminal justice system more broadly. There are organizations in tech that are looking to leverage technology and technical experience to bring more access and equity to the world of criminal justice.
Technology also presents opportunities to address systemic issues in the criminal justice system. Critics argue that the system prioritizes punishment over rehabilitation, failing to equip incarcerated individuals with skills to succeed post-release. Currently, 43% of formerly incarcerated individuals return to prison within a year, and 82% are rearrested within a decade. Given these staggering numbers, greater emphasis should be placed on reentry programs that reduce recidivism.
Defy Ventures, a nonprofit organization, seeks to address this gap by teaching entrepreneurial and employment skills to incarcerated individuals. Their programs extend beyond prison, offering post-release support to those who were unable to access training while incarcerated. In addition to technical skills, Defy fosters holistic confidence-building and employability, equipping participants with the tools to improve their quality of life—whether they choose to start a business or pursue traditional employment. The organization also engages tech professionals, inviting them to judge pitch competitions and mentor participants.
I first learned about Defy Ventures from my boss, who volunteered with the program while I was working at his company. His involvement reminded me of the Bard Prison Initiative, which enables incarcerated individuals to earn college degrees and develop valuable skills while serving their sentences. Both programs highlight how the tech industry can contribute to criminal justice reform.
Justice Text is another example of technology being used to promote fairness. The platform provides tools for public defenders and criminal defense attorneys, helping automate tedious tasks so lawyers can focus on building stronger cases for their clients. By leveraging technology, JusticeText aims to level the playing field for defendants who cannot afford private legal representation.
Technology and the people behind it have the power to make the justice system more just. While the current leadership of the U.S. Justice Department appears focused on enabling public servants like police officers to dodge accountability via technology, we must make sure that we continue to hold them accountable anyway. It is critical to continue advocating for transparency and fairness—using every tool available.
