Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a key component of the justice industry. Across courts, prosecutors’ offices, public defender agencies, probation and pretrial departments, and other justice organizations, leaders are exploring how AI can reduce administrative burden, automate routine tasks, and help staff operate more efficiently.

In response, technology vendors are producing an unprecedented wave of AI-powered capabilities: document summarization, meeting transcriptions, intelligent search capabilities, predictive recommendations, and so much more. Nearly every case management provider now offers some form of AI, making it increasingly difficult for justice agencies to distinguish meaningful innovation from marketing.

This paper explores seven questions every justice organization should ask before selecting an AI vendor. While individual AI features will continue to evolve at a remarkable pace, the principles behind responsible AI implementation are far more enduring. Agencies that evaluate vendors through this lens will be better positioned to invest in technology that delivers long-term value.