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The Effects of Sanction Intensity on Criminal Conduct - JDAI Helpdesk

The Effects of Sanction Intensity on Criminal Conduct - JDAI Helpdesk

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we also have crime outcomes for the n<strong>on</strong>-randomized low-risk backfill cases and for a<br />

group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fenders predicted to be n<strong>on</strong>-low risk by the model. Data for the latter group <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

probati<strong>on</strong>ers were collected for comparis<strong>on</strong> with low-risk cases in a regressi<strong>on</strong><br />

disc<strong>on</strong>tinuity analysis, the outcomes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which were c<strong>on</strong>trasted with the experimental<br />

results (Berk et al., forthcoming). <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> full dataset c<strong>on</strong>tains informati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> 93,540<br />

charges for 3,207 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fenders (2,207 <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> whom were predicted to be low risk) covering a<br />

period <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 42 years (1967-2009).<br />

One significant limitati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the charges database is that it <strong>on</strong>ly includes charges<br />

as an adult for <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fenses in Philadelphia, as we <strong>on</strong>ly had access to local adult criminal<br />

justice system databases. While almost all <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the participants reside in Philadelphia, the<br />

city’s proximity and ease <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> access to surrounding counties and state lines mean that the<br />

local data almost certainly underestimate the number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> charges recorded for these<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fenders. In additi<strong>on</strong>, we do not have juvenile data available to give a full picture <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fenders’ lifetime criminal involvement. While most <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fenders in our sample are<br />

older (see Table 3.1), we would expect to see the majority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> their criminal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fending<br />

taking place during their teenage years, so the lack <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> data <strong>on</strong> charges filed under the age<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> eighteen is a substantial omissi<strong>on</strong>. However, data are available where the <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fender was<br />

charged as an adult, even if the <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fense was committed while s/he was under eighteen.<br />

Outcome measures<br />

As we noted above, the definiti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fending severity may extend bey<strong>on</strong>d the<br />

substantive nature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fense itself. This is particularly true in a sample <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fenders<br />

145

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