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Court Backlogs and Crime in India

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  • Sofia Amaral
  • Siddhartha Bandyopadhyay

Abstract

We analyze the relationship between a ‘weak judiciary’, as measured by the percentage of pending trials, and the propensity to engage in criminal activities. Using state-level panel data for India from 1995 to 2007, we look at the relationship between crime and court backlogs. Our estimations show that there is a positive relationship between backlogs of cases in state High Courts and property crimes but not violent crimes. We argue that policies that increase the number of judges and justice and policing staff per capita are likely to reduce case backlogs by increasing the speed of investigations and case procedures. This in turn would reduce certain categories of crime.

Suggested Citation

  • Sofia Amaral & Siddhartha Bandyopadhyay, 2015. "Court Backlogs and Crime in India," IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review, , vol. 4(2), pages 86-91, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:iimkoz:v:4:y:2015:i:2:p:86-91
    DOI: 10.1177/2277975215604065
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Gupta, Maansi & Bolia, Nomesh B., 2020. "Efficiency measurement of Indian high courts using DEA: A policy perspective," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 42(6), pages 1372-1393.

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