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- Title
DO WE PUNISH HIGH INCOME CRIMINALS TOO HEAVILY?
- Authors
Lott Jr., John R.
- Abstract
Many critics believe that since high income criminals can afford to purchase better legal services they are less severely punished than poor criminals who commit equivalent crimes. Others are concerned that the penalties imposed on criminals are "too small." This paper shows that ignoring the effect conviction has on later earnings dramatically underestimates the total monetary penalty paid by those convicted and that the penalty structure is extremely progressive. Where evidence on the probability of conviction is available, it shows that the highest income criminals face the highest expected penalties.
- Subjects
CRIMINALS; RICH people; FINES (Penalties)
- Publication
Economic Inquiry, 1992, Vol 30, Issue 4
- ISSN
0095-2583
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1465-7295.1992.tb01283.x