Work

Crime and the Depenalization of Cannabis Possession: Evidence from a Policing Experiment

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: We evaluate the impact on crime of a localized policing experiment that depenalized the possession of small quantities of cannabis in the London borough of Lambeth. We find that depenalization policy caused the police to reallocate effort toward nondrug crime. Despite the overall fall in crime attributable to the policy, we find that the total welfare of local residents likely fell, as measured by house prices. We shed light on what would be the impacts on crime of a citywide depenalization policy by developing and calibrating a structural model of the market for cannabis and crime.

Source: Journal of Political Economy

DOI: 10.1086/676932

Authors: Jérôme Adda, Brendon McConnell, Imran Rasul

Institutions: European University Institute, University College London

Language: English

Topic: Crime Patterns and Interventions

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: green

Funder: Economic and Social Research Council