Fines for illicit drug use do not prevent future crime: evidence from randomly assigned judges

Sergey Alexeev and Don Weatherburn

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2022, vol. 200, issue C, 555-575

Abstract: This study uses judicial leniency as an instrumental variable to estimate the effect on recidivism of a monetary penalty for using or possessing a prohibited drug. Using data from the state of New South Wales, Australia, we find that fines have no measurable effect on recidivism. In contrast, ordinary least square estimates mistakenly suggest that fines increase recidivism risk. The results add to existing evidence that sanctions are ineffective in changing drug use behaviour. This should encourage policymakers to seek other ways of stopping or reducing illicit drug consumption among active users.

Keywords: Health Behavior; Public Health; Criminal Law; Litigation Process; Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 I18 K14 K41 K42 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:200:y:2022:i:c:p:555-575

DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2022.06.015

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