Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Criminal Law Blogs -> Sentencing Law and Policy

Criminal Law

: Sentencing Law and Policy

New study suggesting Texas executions might lower homicide rates

By Douglas A. Berman

Thanks to this post at C&C, I saw this piece from USA Today reporting on this notable new study appearing in Criminology.  Here is how the USA Today piece captures the research: Executions in Texas slightly lower homicide rates there, about five to 10 killings in the year afterwards, suggest criminologists.  The executions also may displace homicides to nearby states, however.... In the study, the team looked at Texas, where about one-third of all executions have occurred nationwide since 1973, and where past researchers have disagreed on deterrent effects.  Because legal decision led to greatly-increased executions in 1994, the researchers looked at cases starting with that year. "We conclude that evidence exists of modest, short-term reductions in the numbers of homicides in Texas in the months of or after executions," the study concludes...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on December 10, 2009 (boomark / email).