Emily Owen's Bio Page
Published Papers
- COPS and Crime with William Evans, Journal of Public Economics (2007) 91(1) p 181-201 [abstract]
- More Time, Less Crime? Estimating the Incapacitative Effect of Sentence Enhancements, Forthcoming, Journal of Law and Economics [pdf], *extended working version [pdf]
Working Papers
- Sentencing Guidelines and Judicial Discretion with Shawn Bushway and Anne Piehl (under review)
- Framing Punishment: A New Look at Deterrence with Shawn Bushway (under review)
- One for the Road: Public Transportation and Alcohol Consumption with Kirabo Jackson [under review]
- Justice for Hire: Financial Incentives in the Jury Deliberation Process [pdf]
- The Economics of Rape: Will Victims Pay for Police Involvement? with Jordan Matsudaira [pdf]
- Informal Networks and White Collar Crime with Michael Shores [under review]
- Media and the Criminal Justice System [pdf]
- Immigration and informal Labor with Sarah Bohn [under review]
- Are underground markets really more violent? Evidence from early 20th century America [pdf]
Abstract
Temporary COPS, Permanent Police?
In 1994 congress passed the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act authorizing a total of 30 billion dollars to be spent in an effort to reduce crime in America. One controversial provision of the act was the creation of the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office, which was given the authority to distribute 10 billion dollars in federal money to state and local law enforcement agencies. I examine the long run response of local governments to these short term federal grants. Economic theory tells us that the long run response to a temporary grant should be zero. I find that this is not the case. On aggregate, it appears that for every six officers granted, three officers are hired while the grant is active, and the police force permanently increases by approximately two officers after the grant is over. I also find evidence that the permanent response of local governments to COPS grants increases as the size of the grant relative to initial police levels decreases, irrespective of the actual cost to taxpayers. This suggests that local governments are more willing to increase taxes than alter the level and type of services that they provide.
Research in Progress
- Policing Kids: Determinants of Police Disposition of Juveniles
- Jury Compensation in the Courts with Jordan Matsudaira and Erin York
- Las Vegas, Lotto, or the Alley? Willingness-To-Pay for Casino Gambling and Lottery Tickets in the Presence of Illegal Gaming with Donald Kenkel
- Low Income Housing and Crime with Matthew Freedman
- Do Criminal Background Checks Make People Safer? Evidence from the Nursing Home Industry with Reginald Covington
