NCJ Number
17767
Editor(s)
G S BECKER,
W M LANDES
Date Published
1974
Length
285 pages
Annotation
A COLLECTION OF ARTICLES APPLYING EMIPRICAL AND THEORETICAL ECONOMIC APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Abstract
RESOURCE ALLOCATION THEORY IS EMPLOYED TO DEVELOP PROPOSALS FOR OPTIMAL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE POLICIES TO COMBAT ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES. AN APPROPRIATE DEFINITION OF ENFORCEMENT COSTS IS PROPOSED, AND THE EFFECTS OF COST LIMITATIONS ON ENFORCEMENT ARE ANALYZED. THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SUPPLY FUNCTION FOR ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES INDICATES CERTAIN FACTORS, SUCH AS PROBABILITY OF CONVICTION, WHICH AFFECT CRIME RATES. A PROPOSED SOCIAL BENEFIT FUNCTION FOR THE BAIL SYSTEM INCORPORATES BOTH THE GAINS TO DEFENDENTS FROM RELEASE AND THE RELATED COSTS AND GAINS TO THE COMMUNITY. IN A STUDY OF THE COURT SYSTEM, A UTILITY-MAXIMIZATION MODEL IS DEVELOPED THAT EXPLAINS THE DETERMINANTS OF THE CHOICE BETWEEN A TRIAL AND PRETRIAL SETTLEMENT, THE TERMS OF A SETTLEMENT, AND THE OUTCOME OF A TRIAL. A SIMILAR MODEL IS EMPLOYED TO PREDICT ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES' BUDGETARY ALLOCATIONS ACROSS CLASSES OF CASES, AND DISMISSAL AND SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION RATES FOR DIFFERENT CLASSES OF CASES.