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Interesting deterrence study out of Italy (perhaps providing a basis for more clemencies)

By Douglas A. Berman

This new press release from Science Daily, titled "Potential Criminals Deterred By Longer Sentences," reports on an interesting new published study on deterrence coming from Italy.  Here are excerpts from the press release: A new study published in the Journal of Political Economy sheds some empirical light on the question of deterrence.  Using a recently passed Italian law as a natural experiment, the study found that former prisoners are less likely to return to jail if they expect longer sentences for future crimes.... Passed in 2006, Italy's Collective Clemency Bill presents a unique opportunity to study the deterrent effect of prison sentences, the authors say.... When the clemency bill was passed, it immediately released thousands of prisoners who had three years or less left on their sentences...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on May 19, 2009 (boomark / email).