| By: |
Fusako Tsuchimoto;
Libor Dusek |
| Abstract: |
We investigate behavioral responses of judges and prosecutors to more severe
punishments by analyzing the effects of Truth-in-Sentencing (TIS) laws in a
large sample of individual criminal cases. The TIS laws raised effective
punishment by requiring offenders to serve at least 85% of their imposed
sentence in prison. Differences between the U.S. states in the timing of
adoption and the types of crimes covered provide a source of identification.
The key findings are: (1) The TIS laws reduced the probability that an
arrested offender is eventually convicted by 25% through an increase in the
probability that the case is dismissed, a reduction in the probability that
the defendant pleads guilty, and a reduction in the probability that the
defendant is convicted at trial. (2) The TIS laws the reduced the imposed
sentence that a defendant may expect upon arrest by 14%. The behavioral
responses are empirically important to partially mitigate the intended
deterrent effect of the TIS laws. |
| Keywords: |
Criminal procedure, criminal law, sentencing, Truth-in-Sentencing laws. |
| JEL: |
K00 K41 K14 |
| Date: |
2009–12 |
| URL: |
http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cer:papers:wp403&r=law |