How Data Science Exposes Injustice: Chad Topaz on Unlocking Justice

What happens when the evidence of injustice is buried in messy, redacted, or inaccessible data? Mathematician and data scientist Chad Topaz joins Breaking Math to discuss his book Unlocking Justice. Together, we explore policing, sentencing, public records, Rikers Island, algorithmic risk, and the limits of quantifying human lives. This is a conversation about math, power, transparency, and the small acts of hope that can change systems.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Context of the Conversation

01:11 Chad's Journey from Mathematics to Social Justice

03:50 The Personal Nature of Chad's Book

04:40 Challenges in Data Collection and Access

08:03 The Impact of Data on Policing and Surveillance

09:51 Humorous Yet Tragic Data Collection Experiences

12:55 The Importance of Data Preparation and Cleaning

14:40 Navigating Imperfect Data and Its Consequences

17:48 The Balance Between Quantification and Human Stories

22:25 Incarceration and Public Health: The Rikers Island Case Study

31:36 Mathematics and Social Justice: Secrets of the Elite

39:03 Hope and Action: A Personal Journey in Data for Justice

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