Substance abuse treatment centers and local crime

Samuel R. Bondurant, Jason Lindo and Isaac D. Swensen

Journal of Urban Economics, 2018, vol. 104, issue C, 124-133

Abstract: In this paper we estimate the effects of expanding access to substance-abuse treatment on local crime. We do so using an identification strategy that leverages variation driven by substance-abuse-treatment facility openings and closings measured at the county level. The results indicate that substance-abuse-treatment facilities reduce both violent and financially motivated crimes in an area, and that the effects are particularly pronounced for relatively serious crimes. The effects on homicides are documented in two sources of homicide data and are concentrated in highly populated areas.

Keywords: Substance abuse treatment; Crime; Homicides (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 K14 K42 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (44)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Substance Abuse Treatment Centers and Local Crime (2016)
Working Paper: Substance Abuse Treatment Centers and Local Crime (2016)
Working Paper: Substance Abuse Treatment Centers and Local Crime (2016)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:juecon:v:104:y:2018:i:c:p:124-133

DOI: 10.1016/j.jue.2018.01.007

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