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The Impact of Criminal Financial Sanctions: A Multistate Analysis of Survey and Administrative Data

Author

Listed:
  • Keith Finlay
  • Matthew Gross
  • Carl Lieberman
  • Elizabeth Luh
  • Michael Mueller-Smith

Abstract

We estimate the impact of financial sanctions in the US criminal justice system, leveraging nine natural experiments in a regression discontinuity design framework across a diverse range of enforcement levels ($17–$6,000) and institutional environments. We leverage survey and administrative data to consider a variety of short- and long-term outcomes, including employment, recidivism, household expenditures, and other self-reported measures of well-being. We find robust evidence of precise null effects, including ruling out long-run impacts larger than –$391–$142 in annual earnings and −0.001–0.01 in annual convictions, with no corresponding payment increases despite salient and heterogeneous enforcement mechanisms.

Suggested Citation

  • Keith Finlay & Matthew Gross & Carl Lieberman & Elizabeth Luh & Michael Mueller-Smith, 2024. "The Impact of Criminal Financial Sanctions: A Multistate Analysis of Survey and Administrative Data," American Economic Review: Insights, American Economic Association, vol. 6(4), pages 490-508, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aerins:v:6:y:2024:i:4:p:490-508
    DOI: 10.1257/aeri.20230413
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    JEL classification:

    • G51 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Household Savings, Borrowing, Debt, and Wealth
    • H76 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Other Expenditure Categories
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • K14 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Criminal Law
    • K41 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Litigation Process
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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