Statistical Information Systems for Sentencing: The Israeli Approach
Uri J. Schild · International Review of Law Computers & Technology · 2000
The first statistical information systems (SIS) for sentencing were built more than 20 years ago, but had then only limited interest for researchers. However, during recent years interest has been growing among researchers and experts in the related fields. This is reflected in the new systems that have been built, two workshops that have taken place, and various publications that have appeared on the topic. Lately a rigorous analysis and criticism of this kind of computer system has also been published. The aim of this paper is twofold. Firstly, to describe the Israeli approach to SIS, which is fundamentally different from the previous systems. Secondly, to inspect the Israeli system in the light of the analysis and criticism just mentioned. Our conclusion is that the Israeli kind of system, while far from being perfect, suffers from fewer problems than the systems created hitherto.