TY - JOUR
T1 - Getting off death row
T2 - Commuted sentences and the deterrent effect of capital punishment
AU - Mocan, H. Naci
AU - Kaj Gittings, R.
PY - 2003/10
Y1 - 2003/10
N2 - This paper merges a state-level panel data set that includes crime and deterrence measures and state characteristics with information on all death sentences handed out in the United States between 1977 and 1997. Because the exact month and year of each execution and removal from death row can be identified, they are matched with state-level criminal activity in the relevant time frame. Controlling for a variety of state characteristics, the paper investigates the impact of the execution rate, commutation and removal rates, homicide arrest rate, sentencing rate, imprisonment rate, and prison death rate on the rate of homicide. The results show that each additional execution decreases homicides by about five, and each additional commutation increases homicides by the same amount, while an additional removal from death row generates one additional murder. Executions, commutations, and removals have no impact on robberies, burglaries, assaults, or motor-vehicle thefts.
AB - This paper merges a state-level panel data set that includes crime and deterrence measures and state characteristics with information on all death sentences handed out in the United States between 1977 and 1997. Because the exact month and year of each execution and removal from death row can be identified, they are matched with state-level criminal activity in the relevant time frame. Controlling for a variety of state characteristics, the paper investigates the impact of the execution rate, commutation and removal rates, homicide arrest rate, sentencing rate, imprisonment rate, and prison death rate on the rate of homicide. The results show that each additional execution decreases homicides by about five, and each additional commutation increases homicides by the same amount, while an additional removal from death row generates one additional murder. Executions, commutations, and removals have no impact on robberies, burglaries, assaults, or motor-vehicle thefts.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=1342311439&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1086/382603
DO - 10.1086/382603
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:1342311439
VL - 46
SP - 453
EP - 478
JO - Journal of Law and Economics
JF - Journal of Law and Economics
SN - 0022-2186
IS - 2
ER -