The economics of rights: Does the right to counsel increase crime?

Itai Ater; Yehonatan Givati; Oren Rigbi

doi:10.1257/pol.20160027

The economics of rights: Does the right to counsel increase crime?

Itai Ater
, Yehonatan Givati
, Oren Rigbi

Coller School of Management

Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

We examine the broad consequences of the right to counsel by exploiting a legal reform in Israel that extended the right to publicly provided legal counsel to suspects in arrest proceedings. Using the staggered regional rollout of the reform, we find that the reform reduced arrest duration and the likelihood of arrestees being charged. We also find that the reform reduced the number of arrests made by the police. Lastly, we find that the reform increased crime. These findings indicate that the right to counsel improves suspects' situation, but discourages the police from making arrests, which results in higher crime.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-27
Number of pages	27
Journal	American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
Volume	9
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1257/pol.20160027
State	Published - 1 May 2017

Funding

Funders	Funder number
German-Israel Foundation	I-2379-118.4/2014
Sapir Center
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Israel Science Foundation	8745981
Tel Aviv University

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

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10.1257/pol.20160027

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abstract = "We examine the broad consequences of the right to counsel by exploiting a legal reform in Israel that extended the right to publicly provided legal counsel to suspects in arrest proceedings. Using the staggered regional rollout of the reform, we find that the reform reduced arrest duration and the likelihood of arrestees being charged. We also find that the reform reduced the number of arrests made by the police. Lastly, we find that the reform increased crime. These findings indicate that the right to counsel improves suspects' situation, but discourages the police from making arrests, which results in higher crime.",

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The economics of rights: Does the right to counsel increase crime?

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