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First-day criminal recidivism

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  • Munyo, Ignacio
  • Rossi, Martín A.

Abstract

We report that on any given day the number of inmates released from incarceration significantly affects the number of offenses committed this day, and we name this as first-day recidivism. Our estimates of this novel approach to study early recidivism are robust to a variety of alternative model specifications. We then show that first-day recidivism can be eliminated by an increase in the gratuity provided to prisoners at the time of their release. A simple cost–benefit analysis shows that increasing the gratuity at release is a very efficient policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Munyo, Ignacio & Rossi, Martín A., 2015. "First-day criminal recidivism," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 81-90.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:124:y:2015:i:c:p:81-90
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2014.12.002
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    Cited by:

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    2. Giovanni Mastrobuoni & Daniele Terlizzese, 2022. "Leave the Door Open? Prison Conditions and Recidivism," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 14(4), pages 200-233, October.
    3. Cody Tuttle, 2019. "Snapping Back: Food Stamp Bans and Criminal Recidivism," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 11(2), pages 301-327, May.
    4. Roberto Galbiati & Aurélie Ouss & Arnaud Philippe, 2021. "Jobs, News and Reoffending after Incarceration [Examining the generality of the unemployment–crime association]," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 131(633), pages 247-270.
    5. Barrios-Fernandez, Mauricio Andres & Garcia Hombrados, Jorge, 2021. "Recidivism and neighborhood institutions: evidence from the rise of the evangelical church in Chile," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 114355, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    6. Benjamin Monnery & Saïd Souam & Anna Montagutelli, 2021. "Economie du travail en prison : enjeux, résultats et recommandations," EconomiX Working Papers 2021-26, University of Paris Nanterre, EconomiX.
    7. Cai Yong & Canay Ivan A. & Kim Deborah & Shaikh Azeem M., 2023. "On the Implementation of Approximate Randomization Tests in Linear Models with a Small Number of Clusters," Journal of Econometric Methods, De Gruyter, vol. 12(1), pages 85-103, January.
    8. Escobar, Maria A. & Tobón, Santiago & Vanegas-Arias, Martín, 2023. "Production and persistence of criminal skills: Evidence from a high-crime context," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    9. Diogo G. C. Britto & Paolo Pinotti & Breno Sampaio, 2022. "The Effect of Job Loss and Unemployment Insurance on Crime in Brazil," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 90(4), pages 1393-1423, July.
    10. Gonzalez Pampillon, Nicolas, 2019. "Spillover effects from new housing supply," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 103446, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    11. Stephen G. Dimmock & William C. Gerken & Tyson Van Alfen, 2021. "Real Estate Shocks and Financial Advisor Misconduct," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 76(6), pages 3309-3346, December.
    12. Yong Cai, 2021. "Some Finite Sample Properties of the Sign Test," Papers 2103.01412, arXiv.org, revised Feb 2024.
    13. Giovanni Mastrobuoni & Daniele Terlizzese, 2021. "Cash: Leave the Door Open? Prison Conditions and Recidivism," EIEF Working Papers Series 2111, Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance (EIEF), revised Jun 2021.
    14. Zanella, Giulio, 2020. "Prison Work and Convict Rehabilitation," IZA Discussion Papers 13446, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    15. Nicolás González-Pampillón, 2019. "Spillover effects from new housing supply," CEP Discussion Papers dp1660, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    16. Santiago Tobón Zapata & Maria Antonia Escobar Bernal & Martin Vanegas Arias, 2021. "Criminal capital persistence: Evidence from 90,000 inmates’ releases," Documentos de Trabajo de Valor Público 19297, Universidad EAFIT.
    17. González-Pampillón, Nicolás, 2022. "Spillover effects from new housing supply," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    18. González-Pampillón, Nicolás, 2022. "Spillover effects from new housing supply," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 112932, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Recidivism; Property crime; Liquidity constraints;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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