2020
DOI: 10.1111/1745-9133.12496
|View full text |Cite
|
Sign up to set email alerts
|

Is life without parole an effective way to reduce violent crime? An empirical assessment

Abstract: Research Summary: By taking advantage of data published by the Sentencing Project to analyze whether states that use life without parole (LWOP) more often experience lower violent crime rates or greater reductions in violent crime, this study is the first to empirically assess the crimereducing potential of LWOP sentences. The results suggest that LWOP might produce a small absolute reduction in violent crime but that it is no more effective than life with parole. Policy Implications: Despite reductions in the… Show more

Help me understand this report

Search citation statements

Order By: Relevance

Paper Sections

Select...
2
1

Citation Types

0
4
0

Year Published

2021
2021
2024
2024

Publication Types

Select...
2
2

Relationship

0
4

Authors

Journals

citations
Cited by 4 publications
(4 citation statements)
references
References 76 publications
(110 reference statements)
0
4
0
Order By: Relevance
“…As life and LWOP sentences have proliferated, questions have arisen regarding their fairness, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness (Cheatwood, 1988;Kleinstuber & Coldsmith, 2020). Life sentences are at odds with well-established findings that suggest offenders age out of crime (e.g., Sampson & Laub, 2003).…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
See 2 more Smart Citations
“…As life and LWOP sentences have proliferated, questions have arisen regarding their fairness, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness (Cheatwood, 1988;Kleinstuber & Coldsmith, 2020). Life sentences are at odds with well-established findings that suggest offenders age out of crime (e.g., Sampson & Laub, 2003).…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Although the Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that "death is different," recent decisions have restricted the use of LWOP for juveniles, arguing that "life without parole sentences share some characteristics with death sentences that are shared by no other sentences" (Graham v. Florida, 2010), and that "imprisoning an offender until he dies alters the remainder of his life by a forfeiture that is irrevocable" (Miller v. Alabama, 2012). As debates over LWOP intensify, empirical research on inequities and unfairness in the life sentencing process will be critically important for informing future policy reforms (Kleinstuber & Coldsmith, 2020). In the end, we concur with Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor who recently opined that, "Trial judges making the determination whether a defendant should be condemned to die in prison have a grave responsibility" because "it means that whatever the future might hold in store for the mind and spirit of the convict, he will remain in prison for the rest of his days" (Glen Campbell v. Ohio, 2018).…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
See 1 more Smart Citation
“…15 Retribution, long-term incapacitation, and public safety concerns underlie the imposition of life sentences for serious and violent felonies. However, the act of confining individuals in prison for exceedingly long periods of time produces diminishing returns relative to the likelihood of their reoffending (Kleinstuber & Coldsmith, 2020). The propensity to commit crime, even violent crime, greatly recedes as individuals age (Mauer & Nellis, 2018).…”
Section: Presumptive Release Eligibility Should Be Reached At 15 Years For Individuals With Life Sentencesmentioning
confidence: 99%