How to Succeed in Criminal Justice Without Really Trying
56 Pages Posted: 8 Nov 2011 Last revised: 9 Nov 2011
Date Written: November 8, 2011
Abstract
We examined the incentive structure of the various actors of the criminal justice system within an organization economics framework. Specifically, we examined the incentives of the police, forensic scientists, prosecutors and public defenders. We found that police, prosecutors and forensic scientists often have an incentive to garner convictions with little incentive to convict the right person, whereas public defenders lack incentives to provide a vigorous defense for their clients. Further, we analyzed the role this skewed incentive structure plays in leading to false convictions.
Keywords: multitask problem, criminal justice, forensic science, false convictions
JEL Classification: K14, L32, D2, D73
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation