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Resource Constraints and the Criminal Justice System: Evidence from Judicial Vacancies †

Resource Constraints and the Criminal Justice System: Evidence from Judicial Vacancies † Abstract Ten percent of federal judgeships are currently vacant, yet little is known on the impact of these vacancies on criminal justice outcomes. Using judge deaths and pension eligibility as instruments for vacancies, I find that prosecutors dismiss more cases during vacancies. Prosecuted defendants are more likely to plead guilty and less likely to be incarcerated during vacancies, with defendants who are detained pretrial more likely to be incarcerated. The current rate of vacancies has resulted in 1,000 fewer prison inmates annually compared to a fully-staffed court system, a 1.5 percent decrease. (JEL K14, K41, K42 ) http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png American Economic Journal: Economic Policy American Economic Association

Resource Constraints and the Criminal Justice System: Evidence from Judicial Vacancies †

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Publisher
American Economic Association
Copyright
Copyright © 2016 by the American Economic Association
Subject
Articles
ISSN
1945-7731
eISSN
1945-774X
DOI
10.1257/pol.20150150
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract Ten percent of federal judgeships are currently vacant, yet little is known on the impact of these vacancies on criminal justice outcomes. Using judge deaths and pension eligibility as instruments for vacancies, I find that prosecutors dismiss more cases during vacancies. Prosecuted defendants are more likely to plead guilty and less likely to be incarcerated during vacancies, with defendants who are detained pretrial more likely to be incarcerated. The current rate of vacancies has resulted in 1,000 fewer prison inmates annually compared to a fully-staffed court system, a 1.5 percent decrease. (JEL K14, K41, K42 )

Journal

American Economic Journal: Economic Policy – American Economic Association

Published: Nov 1, 2016

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