Deterability by age

Shawn Bushway, Gregory DeAngelo and Benjamin Hansen

International Review of Law and Economics, 2013, vol. 36, issue C, 70-81

Abstract: The most effective use of law enforcement resources for reducing crime has generated significant attention across law enforcement agencies, federal, state, and local decision-making committees as well as many academic disciplines. One of the more spirited discussions revolves around law enforcement agents targeting criminal activity based on a suspect's race and age. While racial profiling has received considerable attention, discussions about age-based patrolling and age-graded penalties have received much less attention. In the current analysis, we test the response, by age, of speeding on roadways (a crime that is often considered to be linked to age) to decreases in the probability of being apprehended. We find that all drivers appear to quasi-uniformly increase their speed in response to the reduced chance of being apprehended. Additionally, more egregious and seasoned offenders tend to be more responsive to fluctuations in law enforcement presence.

Keywords: Deterrence; Age; Law enforcement; Age-crime curve; Speeding (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D9 K4 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:irlaec:v:36:y:2013:i:c:p:70-81

DOI: 10.1016/j.irle.2013.04.006

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