Rhys Dipshan

CT-born, New York-based legal tech reporter covering everything from in-house technology disruption to privacy trends, blockchain, AI, cybersecurity, and ghosts-in-the-machine. Continually waiting for law to catch up with tech. (It's like waiting for Godot, but without the clowns)

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July 16, 2020 | Law.com

Trump Tax Battles Continues, Firms Keep Salary Cuts, Associates Uncertain Start Date: The Morning Minute

Here's the news you need to start your day.

By Rhys Dipshan

4 minute read

July 15, 2020 | Legaltech News

The People Problem: How States Try to Limit Risk Assessment Inaccuracies, Misusage

Despite some assessment tools' sophistication, none can operate without some level of manual data collection, interpretation and input. How states ensure that is done accurately by court and correctional officials, however, often depends on a tool's complexity and the jurisdiction's preferences.

By Rhys Dipshan | Victoria Hudgins | Frank Ready

10 minute read

July 15, 2020 | Legaltech News

Who Validates States' Risk Assessment Tools? Here's a Look

States need to validate their risk assessment tool to ensure they accurately predict criminal justice outcomes in their jurisdiction. While some states will undertake validations themselves, others will turn to independent researchers, private and nonprofit organizations or universities.

By Rhys Dipshan | Victoria Hudgins | Frank Ready | Zach Warren

1 minute read

July 15, 2020 | Legaltech News

Same Score, Different Impact: States Can Decide Who Assessment Tech Deems 'High Risk'

Implemented in different jurisdictions, the same risk assessment tool can yield vastly different results. While a part of that is by design, some of it also comes down to a jurisdiction's preferences and tolerance for error.

By Rhys Dipshan

11 minute read

July 14, 2020 | Legaltech News

States vs. Vendors: Are Some Risk Assessment Tools Better Than Others?

While some states would never consider a risk assessment tool created by third party, others say developing their own proprietary instruments is unnecessary and, given the resources required, unrealistic. Researchers are split on if state, vendor distinction even matters.

By Rhys Dipshan | Victoria Hudgins | Frank Ready

12 minute read

July 14, 2020 | Law.com

U.S States' Risk Assessment Tools, 2nd Circuit's Final Word, Too Much AI?: The Morning Minute

Here's the news you need to start your day.

By Rhys Dipshan

4 minute read

July 13, 2020 | Legaltech News

The Most Widely Used Risk Assessment Tool in Each U.S State

Tools that have the broadest impact and deployment are ones that look at recidivism pretrial risk in adult populations. Here's a look the specific tools in use in each state, and the criminal justice decision points they influence.

By Rhys Dipshan | Victoria Hudgins | Frank Ready | Zach Warren

1 minute read

July 13, 2020 | Legaltech News

The Long, And Short, Evolution of Assessment Tools

While Risk and Needs Assessment (RNA) tools developed over four distinct generations, pretrial risk assessment tools are much newer.

By Rhys Dipshan

1 minute read

July 13, 2020 | Legaltech News

The United States of Risk Assessment: The Machines Influencing Criminal Justice Decisions

In every state, assessment tools help courts decide certain cases or correctional officers determine the supervision and programming an offender receives. But the tools each state uses varies widely, and how they're put into practice varies even more.

By Rhys Dipshan | Victoria Hudgins | Frank Ready

11 minute read

July 10, 2020 | Legaltech News

Communication Breakdown: 5 Legal Tech Marketing Fails to Avoid

In an era of high expectations and educated buyers, some legal tech companies would do well overhauling what they say—and don't say—when describing the value of their tech product.

By Rhys Dipshan

1 minute read

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