CHOICE-THEORETIC ANALYSIS OF CRIMINAL DETERRENTS

• NCJ Number: 12201
• Author(s): R C LIND; M K BLOCK
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 38 pages
• Grant Number(s): NI-71-086; NSF 8(GS 2942)
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Stanford University
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

NARRATIVE PRESENTATION OF A MATHEMATICAL MODEL EXPLAINING THE DECISION TO COMMIT A CRIME IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC COSTS AND BENEFITS.

Abstract

THE AUTHORS ANALYZE THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THE CHOICE OF CRIME CAN BE REDUCED TO AN EQUIVALENT CHOICE AMONG MONETARY ASSETS. THEY DEVELOP A SPECIFIC FORMULATION OF THE UTILITY FUNCTION APPROPRIATE FOR ANALYZING BEHAVIOR WITH REGARD TO CRIME AND PUNISHMENT AND ANALYZE THE RELATION BETWEEN BEHAVIOR TOWARD RISK IN WEALTH AND BEHAVIOR TOWARD RISK IN SENTENCES. NEXT THEY DEVELOP THE CONCEPT OF A DETERRENT AND EXAMINE THE EFFECTS ON AN INDIVIDUAL'S PROPENSITY TO ENGAGE IN CRIME OF CHANGES IN (1) THE INDIVIDUAL'S INITIAL WEALTH, (2) THE PAYOFF FROM CRIME, (3) THE PROBABILITY OF CONVICTION, AND (4) THE LEVEL OF PUNISHMENT. IN ADDITION THEY ANALYZE THE RELATIVE DETERRENT EFFECT OF INCREASES IN THE PROBABILITY OF CONVICTION AND INCREASES IN THE LEVEL OF PUNISHMENT. FINALLY, THE AUTHORS DISCUSS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FINES AND PRISON SENTENCES AS ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF PUNISHMENT AND THE LIMITS ON PUNISHMENT AS A DETERRENT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)