NCJ Number
45183
Journal
JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS Volume: 6 Issue: 1-2 Dated: (SUMMER/ WINTER 1977) Pages: 217-224
Date Published
1977
Length
8 pages
Annotation
A CRITIQUE OF AN EARLIER STUDY OFFERING EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF A DETERRENT EFFECT FOR CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE STUDY IN QUESTION WAS CONDUCTED BY JAMES YUNKER, WHO ATTIBUTES THE PAUCITY OF EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF DETERRENCE TO THE IDENTIFICATION PROBLEM, AND ATTEMPTS TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM BY SELECTING THE YEARS OVER WHICH TO ESTIMATE A HOMICIDE FUNCTION, IN WHICH MURDERS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE A FUNCTION OR PRIOR EXECUTIONS AND UNEMPLOYMENT RATES. YUNKER REACHES THE CONCLUSION THAT A SINGLE EXECUTION WILL DETER EXACTLY 156 MURDERS. THE CRITIQUE CALLS INTO QUESTION YUNKER'S CHOICE OF TIME PERIOD (1960-72) OVER WHICH TO ESTIMATE THE HOMICIDE FUNCTION. YUNKER'S DISMISSAL OF THE INFLUENCES OF THE TIMES IS CRITICIZED IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT OTHER CRIME RATES OVER THE SAME TIME PERIOD BEHAVED MUCH THE SAME AS HOMICIDE RATES. THE YUNKER ANALYSIS IS DUPLICATED FOR SIX OTHER INDEX CRIMES -- ROBBERY, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, FORCIBLE RAPE, BURGLARY, LARCENY, AND AUTO THEFT -- NONE OF WHICH IS OF A CAPITAL NATURE. THE RESULTS SHOW THAT ELASTICITY WITH RESPECT TO NUMBER OF PRIOR EXECUTIONS IS THE LEAST FOR THE HOMICIDE FUNCTION. WHEN TIME IS USED AS THE INDEPENDENT VARIABLE RATHER THAN PRIOR EXECUTIONS, THE CORRELATION WITH INDEX CRIME RATES IS STRONGER. THE IMPLICATION OF THE FINDINGS IS FACTORS (POSSIBLY THE VIET NAM SITUATION AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT) OTHER THAN THE STATUS OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT WERE AT WORK DURING THE PERIOD COVERED IN THE YUNKER ANALYSIS. TABLES AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)