AI-Powered Police Report Software Speeds Up Workflow and Reduces Errors, Raising Questions about Bias and Transparency

In Fort Collins, Colorado, police officer Scott Brittingham has found a significant time-saver in Draft One, an artificial intelligence (AI) powered software that creates the first draft of police reports. Prior to using the tool, a report might take him 45 minutes to write, but now it only takes 10 minutes.

Brittingham’s experience may become commonplace as law enforcement departments across the nation adopt Draft One. The software, developed by Axon – a company known for its tasers and body cameras – aims to streamline and simplify police report writing processes. While it is gaining traction, there are concerns about potential biases or inaccuracies in AI-drafted reports, as well as transparency issues.

Police reports play a crucial role in the criminal justice system, serving as a means for officers to detail incidents and justify their actions. Reports can also be used by prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, and the public to gain insight into an officer’s perspective on events. As such, they serve as an accountability mechanism for police power.

Proponents of Draft One argue that AI could lead to more accurate and comprehensive reports due to its time-saving benefits. However, skeptics worry about the potential consequences of any issues with the technology. For instance, one state has already passed a law regulating the use of AI-drafted police reports.

The rollout of Draft One comes amid broader concerns surrounding AI in law enforcement, following experiments with facial recognition technology that have resulted in wrongful arrests. While some legal experts and civil rights advocates raise concerns about biases or inaccuracies in AI-drafted reports, Axon maintains that it works with a group of third-party academics, restorative justice advocates, and community leaders to address these issues.

After an interaction is recorded on a body camera, an officer can request Draft One to create a report. The tool uses the transcript from the body camera footage to generate a draft, which appears shortly after the request. The officer then reviews the draft and adds any necessary details before submitting it as final.

Each draft report contains bracketed fill-in-the-blanks that the officer must complete or delete before submission. This system ensures officers review the drafts to correct potential errors or add missing information. Axon has modified a version of OpenAI’s ChatGPT for Draft One and has tested it to minimize “hallucinations” – factual errors that AI systems can generate randomly.

Draft One was developed in response to staffing shortages faced by Axon’s police department clients. In a 2024 survey, the International Association of Chiefs of Police found that agencies were operating at least 10% below their authorized staffing levels on average. The tool has been adopted by police departments in Lafayette, Indiana; Tampa, Florida; and Campbell, California, among others. Given that nearly every US department uses at least one Axon product, the growth potential for Draft One appears significant.

Technology Sergeant Bob Younger from the Fort Collins Police Department tested Draft One last summer and was impressed by its speed, accuracy, and efficiency. The department initially made the technology available to around 70 officers; now all officers have access. Younger estimates that the tool has reduced the time officers spend writing reports by nearly 70%, freeing up more time for other duties.

Isner says he’s received positive feedback from prosecutors about Draft One, but there have been concerns raised as well. In September 20XX, the prosecutor’s office in King County, Washington, announced it would not accept police reports drafted with AI assistance due to potential errors or biases. Axon remains committed to working with various stakeholders to address these concerns and ensure the responsible evolution of Draft One.

Despite some reservations, Brittingham views Draft One as a useful tool rather than a replacement for traditional police report writing. As with any technology, its effectiveness depends on responsible and well-meaning users.