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If we Confess our Sins

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  • Francisco Silva

Abstract

I consider the problem a social planner faces in constructing a criminal justice system which addresses two needs: to protect the innocent and to punish the guilty. I characterize the socially optimal criminal justice system under various assumptions with respect to the planner’s ability to commit. In the optimal system, before a criminal investigation is initiated, all members of the community are given the opportunity to confess to having committed the crime in exchange for a smaller than socially optimal punishment, independent of any future evidence. Leniency for confessing agents is efficient because there are informational externalities to each confession.

Suggested Citation

  • Francisco Silva, 2017. "If we Confess our Sins," Documentos de Trabajo 500, Instituto de Economia. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile..
    • Handle: RePEc:ioe:doctra:500
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    File URL: https://www.economia.uc.cl/docs/doctra/dt_500.pdf
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    Cited by:

    1. Berg, Nathan & Kim, Jeong-Yoo, 2018. "Plea bargaining with multiple defendants and its deterrence effect," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 58-70.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • K14 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Criminal Law

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