Law Change and Ai 2025

 

How AI Could Revolutionize Criminal and Civil Justice Systems


Prompted by me, written by chatgpt, April 2025


Justice systems around the world are struggling. Courts are overloaded, rulings can be inconsistent, and bias—racial, socioeconomic, and beyond—still plays a disturbing role. But what if advanced artificial intelligence could help?


That’s not science fiction anymore. Legal Language Models (LLMs)—AI systems trained on vast libraries of legal cases, psychological research, and criminology studies—are already starting to reshape how justice is served. Here's how they could become powerful tools for fairness, efficiency, and access in criminal and civil courts.


1. Smarter, Fairer Legal Advice in the Courtroom


Imagine a judge or lawyer having a digital assistant that can instantly pull up the most relevant case law, psychological research, or data about social context—without human error or bias. AI tools could act as legal co-pilots, offering clear recommendations while always leaving the final say to humans.


2. Rethinking Sentencing with Psychology and Data


Current risk assessment tools used in criminal justice, like COMPAS, have come under fire for racial bias. But an AI model trained on rigorous, peer-reviewed psychology and criminology research could recommend fairer, evidence-based sentences focused on rehabilitation, not just punishment.


For example, someone with mental health issues might get support instead of prison time, reducing recidivism and human suffering.


3. Making Civil Justice Accessible for Everyone


In places like British Columbia and the Netherlands, online AI-driven systems are already helping people resolve civil disputes—from landlord issues to small claims—without a lawyer. These platforms are often free or low-cost, and designed to be user-friendly even for people with disabilities or language barriers.


Check out BC’s Civil Resolution Tribunal here: https://civilresolutionbc.ca/


4. Using AI to Detect Systemic Injustice


What if an AI could scan a country’s legal system and find out where people of color are sentenced more harshly, or where poor neighborhoods are more likely to be evicted?


With the right data and ethical oversight, AI could reveal patterns of injustice and help guide policy reform.


5. Keeping AI Accountable


Of course, we can’t hand over justice to a machine. These systems must be transparent and supervised by diverse teams of legal experts, technologists, ethicists, and everyday citizens. AI should serve people—not replace them.


The European Commission’s Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI is a great framework for how to do this right.


The Bottom Line


AI isn’t a magic solution. But used wisely, it can become a tool for a more humane, consistent, and accessible justice system.

 From fairer sentencing to faster civil resolutions, AI legal models have the potential to transform how we deliver justice

—if we’re brave and ethical enough to try.


Want to learn more?

Check out ProPublica’s deep dive on risk assessment bias:

 https://www.propublica.org/article/machine-bias-risk-assessments-in-criminal-sentencing

Read about Estonia’s AI judge experiment: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-50081328


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