Sanctuary cities and crime

Yuki Otsu

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2021, vol. 192, issue C, 600-615

Abstract: Sanctuary policies may attract criminals and lower the opportunity cost of crime, while these policies produce a spiral of trust that supports police and raises informal social control over crime. I estimate the dynamic effects of sanctuary policies on crime rates at city level. This paper finds (1) no evidence that sanctuary policies cause an increase in any crime, (2) some evidence that they may lead to a decrease in property crime, and the effect is strengthened over time after the adoption, (3) the increased trust between residents and police is likely the reason for the negative effect.

Keywords: Sanctuary city; Crime policy; Undocumented immigrants (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J15 K37 R59 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:192:y:2021:i:c:p:600-615

DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2021.10.020

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