The author is economist Jennifer Doleac, and the subtitle is A Revolution in Criminal Justice. Excerpt: We found that adding anyone charged with a felony to the law enforcement DNA database in Denmark reduced future criminal convictions by over 40 percent. Again, people responded to the higher probability of getting caught by committing fewer cimres. …
*The Science of Second Chances*
*The Science of Second Chances*
15 Nov 2025 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, economics of crime, economics of education, human capital, labour economics, labour supply, law and economics, occupational choice Tags: criminal deterrence
A gross failure of editorial judgment
03 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: crime and punishment, criminal deterrence, law and order, regressive left
Karl du Fresne writes – There’s a story in the New Zealand Herald this morning about the death of former King Cobras gang leader Ulaiasi “Rocky” Pulete. Carrying the byline of Herald crime reporter Jared Savage, it’s written in the reverential tones normally reserved for an esteemed community leader, business person or sporting figure. Pulete is described as “a […]
A gross failure of editorial judgment
Labour always backs the crims
30 Jul 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: crime and punishment, criminal deterrence, law and order
Stuff reports: With a new trial for court bailiffs to seize cars if their owners haven’t paid fines, the Labour Party says innocent families could be left “stranded”. The Government is trialling new technology for bailiffs to scan number plates as they search for people who have unpaid fines. They will then clamp or seize […]
Labour always backs the crims
The pro shoplifting party
08 Jul 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, Marxist economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: crime and punishment, criminal deterrence, law and order, regressive left
Paul Goldsmith released: Green MP Tamatha Paul is giving shoplifting the green light as she opposes the Government’s plan to strengthen penalties, National Party Spokesperson for Justice Paul Goldsmith says. “The Greens are singing from the same old song sheet, making excuses for anyone who attacks or steals from hard working New Zealanders.” Yesterday Ms […]
The pro shoplifting party
Is shoplifting ever okay?
04 Jul 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: crime and punishment, criminal deterrence, law and order
What happened to law makers being on the side of the law? A Green Party MP thinks it’s okay to shoplift: Green MP Tamatha Paul is giving shoplifting the green light as she opposes the Government’s plan to strengthen penalties, National Party Spokesperson for Justice Paul Goldsmith says. “The Greens are singing from the same […]
Is shoplifting ever okay?
Guest Post: Cultural reports: You didn’t think you’d get rid of me that easily, did you?
24 Apr 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: crime and punishment, criminal deterrence, law and order
A guest post by a reader: I regret to inform you that cultural reports are back, wearing a wig and a false mustache. In March 2024, Parliament passed the Legal Services Amendment Bill, which abolished public legal aid funding for section 27 reports, also known as “cultural reports”. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith stated: “This will […]
Guest Post: Cultural reports: You didn’t think you’d get rid of me that easily, did you?
Home detention for vicious assault
19 Apr 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: crime and punishment, criminal deterrence, law and order
The Herald reports: A teen who took part in a violent and unprovoked street attack, king hitting one of his victims, has narrowly avoided jail after a judge ruled it would not be the “just” outcome. Just? Just for who? The victim? Hunia did the following: So this was not a moment of madness, or […]
Home detention for vicious assault
Greens now campaigning against prisons as well as police
15 Apr 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, Marxist economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: crime and punishment, criminal deterrence, law and order
Stuff reports: Green MP Tamatha Paul has launched a fundraising campaign for a group wanting to “defund the police” and close the court system. Paul has been attracting attention over recent weeks for her comments about policing and support of groups that call for the abolition of police, jails, and courts. While she and the Green Party […]
Greens now campaigning against prisons as well as police
Some great sentencing changes
07 Apr 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: crime and punishment, criminal deterrence, law and order
Paul Goldsmith announced the sentencing reforms passed third reading. While the revised three strikes law was so watered down to be almost useless, these law changes are much more meaningful and welcome. They include:
Some great sentencing changes
So out of touch
27 Mar 2025 1 Comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: crime and punishment, criminal deterrence, law and order, political correctness. regressive left
Radio NZ reports: Green MP Tamatha Paul is doubling down on her comments that a “visible police presence” makes people feel “more on edge.” … The Wellington Central MP said she’d received “nothing but complaints” about police beat patrols. Paul told the event people in Wellington didn’t want to see police officers everywhere, and “for […]
So out of touch
There seems to be a pattern
27 Mar 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, occupational choice, politics - New Zealand Tags: crime and punishment, criminal deterrence, law and order, political correctness, regressive left
This is of course all the work of the Green Party Police and Corrections Spokesperson, Tamatha Paul. I think it is fair to conclude that there is a pattern.
There seems to be a pattern
Greens think prisoners are the victims!
19 Mar 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, labour economics, law and economics, occupational choice, politics - New Zealand Tags: crime and punishment, criminal deterrence, law and order, regressive left
David Farrar writes – The Herald reported: The Greens’ Tamatha Paul has expressed “regret” about a claim she made on social media that the “vast majority” of people in prison are there for non-violent offences that they’ve “had to do as a response to poverty”. Police and Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell has described comments in her video as “total nonsense” and an […]
Greens think prisoners are the victims!
Can Enhanced Street Lighting Improve Public Safety at Scale?
28 Feb 2025 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, econometerics, economics of crime, labour economics, law and economics, occupational choice Tags: crime and punishment, criminal deterrence, law and order
Street lighting is often believed to influence street crime, but most prior studies have examined small-scale interventions in limited areas. The effect of large-scale lighting enhancements on public safety remains uncertain. This study evaluates the impact of Philadelphia’s citywide rollout of enhanced street lighting, which began in August 2023. Over 10 months, 34,374 streetlights were […]
Can Enhanced Street Lighting Improve Public Safety at Scale?
Remembering Tariana Turia
09 Jan 2025 Leave a comment
in politics - New Zealand Tags: criminal deterrence, law and order, racial discrimination
Dame Tariana Turia has been well-remembered by many over the past few days. She was warm, had a great sense of humour, and was, above all, highly principled. People I trust have said so and I believe them. Having never met her, however, I knew her only by the thoughts she publicly expressed.On not infrequent…
Remembering Tariana Turia
A cowardly cop killer
01 Jan 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: crime and punishment, criminal deterrence, law and order
Stuff reports: A police officer has died after a car “being used as a weapon” hit her and a colleague, in a New Year’s Eve incident in Nelson. After hitting the two officers, the vehicle allegedly returned and rammed a police car with an officer and a member of the public inside. After due process […]
A cowardly cop killer
Utopia, you are standing in it! 
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