Diversion in the Criminal Justice System

@article{MuellerSmith2020DiversionIT,
  title={Diversion in the Criminal Justice System},
  author={Michael Mueller-Smith and Kevin T. Schnepel},
  journal={The Review of Economic Studies},
  year={2020}
}
This article provides the first causal estimates on the popular, cost-saving practice of diversion in the criminal justice system, an intervention that provides offenders with a second chance to avoid a criminal record. We exploit two natural experiments in Harris County, Texas where first-time felony defendants faced abrupt changes in the probability of diversion. Using administrative data and regression discontinuity methods, we find robust evidence across both experiments that diversion… 
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26 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
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Background Citations
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26 Citations

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