NCJ Number
55630
Journal
INTERFACES Volume: 7 Issue: 3 Dated: (MAY 1977) Pages: 55-60
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
FOCUSING ON THE IMPUTED WAGE RATE FOR TIME SPENT IN PRISON, THIS MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS CONSIDERS THE CRIME OF BURGLARY, ITS SANCTIONS AND PAYOFFS, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE RATIONAL ECONOMIC CRIMINAL.
Abstract
USING NATIONWIDE DATA CULLED FROM UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS, THE ANALYSIS USES A MATHEMATICAL MODEL TO BALANCE THE NUMBER OF BURGLARIES IN A GIVEN YEAR AND THE TOTAL LOSS TO VICTIMS WITH THE AVERAGE TIME BURGLARS SPEND IN JAIL AND THE PROBABILITY OF BEING ARRESTED, CHARGED, TRIED, CONVICTED, AND SENTENCED TO JAIL. RESULTS FROM SELECTED STATES--MASSACHUSETTS, NEW YORK, ILLINOIS, MISSOURI, GEORGIA, TENNESSEE, OKLAHOMA, COLORADO, AND CALIFORNIA--INDICATE THAT THE IMPUTED WAGE RATE FOR BURLGARS VARIES STRIKINGLY FROM REGION TO REGION--FROM $579 IN OKLAHOMA TO ALMOST 14 TIMES AS MUCH, $8115, IN MASSACHUSETTS. IT IS ALSO INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THE MASSACHUSETTS WAGE RATE IS NEARLY TWICE THAT OF CALIFORNIA, EVEN THOUGH THE PROBABILITY OF BEING SENT TO PRISON FOR A BURGLARY IS NEARLY IDENTICAL IN BOTH STATES. THE HIGHER WAGE RATES RESULT FROM SIGNIFICANTLY SHORTER LENGTHS OF TIME SPENT IN PRISON IN MASSACHUSETTS. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (KBL)