Wonderful to visit Jessica Jackson in NY. As a Santa Clara student, she inspired Paper Prisons when she drew attention to prisons overstay as a data problem. She’s since led REFORM; which has in 6 yrs passed 21 laws in 12 states to reform our broken probation/parole system:
youtu.be/Gk8aREuaGAg?...

So impressed with the spooky smart and creative costumes of students in my AI Law and Governance class! Adding our family's AI-themed costume from a few years ago too. Happy Halloween! 🎃

New paper: Bridging Research Gaps b/w Academic Research & Legal Investigations of Algorithmic Discrimination, for AI, Ethics & Society 2025. @irenetrampoline.bsky.social, Anna Zink & I review civil enforcement actions & find 5 ways algorithmic research can better support enforcers; comments welcome!

My new article, "Clean Slate, Dirty Data," audits automatic non-conviction record clearance laws in 5 states, finds good but imperfect compliance, suggesting 1) automation can succeed where petitions fail, 2) accountability in implementation is needed.(NC L. Rev 2025)
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

Despite backlash to DEI, our paper, w/ Jillian Grennan and Jason Sandvik, just presented @nber.org, suggests targeted mentorship boosts firm-wide innovation. Tracking 7 cohorts, 633 mentees & 20K+ employees, we find real ROI for well-designed mentoring.

📄 papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

Just posted: working paper on the impact of drivers license suspension reform laws on employment w/ @bobapel.bsky.social. We find increases in statewide employment when people can drive & that the quality of reform matters. It’s an early draft, welcome your comments! paperprisons.org/news-blog.ht...

We've launched a biweekly AI & Society salon at Berkeley w/ @rajiinio.bsky.social & @irenetrampoline.bsky.social! This week, sociologist marionf.bsky.social joined EECS’ beenwrekt.bsky.social to discuss The Ordinal Society. Up next, on April 16th: AI & Education. Join us at ai-and-society.github.io

Excited to see @kpbssandiego.bsky.social spotlight the Paper Prisons Racial Justice Act tool in their mini-series on racial disparities in the justice system. We’ve been humbled by the reception from people seeking to connect lived experience to data and welcome collaboration.

Today at noon PST - Tech Devt’s & Tools in the Criminal Legal System webinar (qualifies for CA tech CLE) - I’ll be talking about Paper Prisons projects in AI, automation, & data re the California Racial Justice Act & Clean Slate w/ Andrea Roth, Chesa Boudin, Rebecca Wexler, and Jake Rhodes.

By providing data for evaluating RJA claims, we aim to level the field for those seeking discovery/relief based on disparity evidence. Analyze your case against broader patterns; see our LA County burglary analysis (2013-2014).

Excited to share UC Berkeley's new cluster hire in AI, Inequality, and Society including five T/TT positions at Berkeley Law, @berkeleyischool.bsky.social, UC Berkeley CDSS, and the departments of EECS and Sociology.

Please consider applying / spread the word!
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF04498

Great to talk inclusive innovation with US Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce Derrick Brent last week at USPTO headquarters. Check out the agency's National Strategy for Inclusive Innovation, for getting people off the bench and into the innovation game.

uspto.gov/about-us/new...

Recording from inspiring California GenAI summit focusing on how to best harness GenAI for empowerment, not inequality, now available.
cdss.berkeley.edu/JointCASummi...
Check out the Governor's GenAI EO, toolkit, procurement guidance, and other regs.
cdt.ca.gov/technology-i...

@djpatil.bsky.social

The inventorship standard has gotten less attention, but we present evidence from paper authorship suggesting that broadening credit to include those who perform experiments could boost female recognition by up to 75% and reduce the gender gap by 10%.