Three essays on the economics of crime

This thesis analyses three research questions on the Economics of crime using econometric techniques on panel level and individual level data sets in England and Wales. Chapter one focuses on the swiftness in the justice system and its effects on crime rates. Using a unique data set for court waiting times in days in England and Wales, and utilising a fixed effects model and instrumental variable approach, we find that effects vary on what type of crime it is. Chapters two and three explore how effective non-custodial sentences can be in reducing crime and reoffending rates. In particular, chapter two focuses on alternatives to custody on four different crime categories and chapter three uses individual level data and analyses the effects of Community Resolution on the recidivism rates for first time, low level offenders. The analysis in chapter two on sentencing in England and Wales finds after controlling for socio-economic variables in each area, that alternatives to custody can be effective at reducing certain types of crime. Chapter three uses individual level data from Norfolk and Suffolk Police and finds that Community Resolution can significantly reduce reoffending rates and time to reoffending.