Making economically sound confinement decisions: A response to the zedlewski thesis

This paper examines the economic costs and benefits of incarceration of criminals, elaborating upon and correcting flaws in Zedlewski’s 1987 claims that incarceration is a cost-minimizing crime prevention strategy. We use Bureau of Justice Statistics data to demonstrate gross errors in Zedlewski’s c...

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Bibliographische Detailangaben
1. VerfasserIn: Meyer, Peter B. (VerfasserIn)
Beteiligte: Hopkins, Shawna Adkins
Medienart: Elektronisch Aufsatz
Sprache:Englisch
Veröffentlicht: 1991
In: American journal of criminal justice
Jahr: 1991, Band: 15, Heft: 2, Seiten: 106-133
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Schlagwörter:
Crime Prevention
Incarceration Rate
Crime Rate
Social Cost
Justice System
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:This paper examines the economic costs and benefits of incarceration of criminals, elaborating upon and correcting flaws in Zedlewski’s 1987 claims that incarceration is a cost-minimizing crime prevention strategy. We use Bureau of Justice Statistics data to demonstrate gross errors in Zedlewski’s crude estimates. We find that the costs of incarceration are more than double the benefits in costs of crime avoided. We conclude that the cost-saving incapacitation effects of incarceration do not warrant either the current levels of imprisonment or any future increases.
ISSN:1936-1351
DOI:10.1007/BF02885622