NCJ Number
252668
Journal
Economic Journal Volume: 128 Issue: 608 Dated: February 2018 Pages: 447-469
Date Published
February 2018
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This study estimated the impact of employment opportunities on recidivism among 1.7 million offenders released from a California prison between 1993 and 2008.
Abstract
The institutional structure of the California criminal justice system as well as location, skill, and industry specific job accession data provide a unique framework for identifying a causal effect of job availability on criminal behavior. The study found that increases in construction and manufacturing opportunities at the time of release were associated with significant reductions in recidivism. Other types of opportunities, including those characterized by lower wages and are typically accessible to individuals with criminal records, do not influence recidivism. (publisher abstract modified)