Stricter Community Supervision, More Recidivism? An Ego-Depletion Theory

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2023

Journal Title

Review of Law & Economics

ISSN

1555-5879

DOI

10.1515/rle-2022-0088

Abstract

Can stricter community supervision (i.e., parole and probation) requirements lead to an increase in recidivism? I investigate this question by constructing a law enforcement model in which individuals can incur costs to increase their degree of self-control. The analysis reveals that stricter community supervision can, in fact, increase recidivism if these investments lead to ego-depletion. This possibility therefore warrants empirical investigation, and policy makers ought to be mindful of it when determining the strictness of community supervision conditions.

First Page

201

Last Page

211

Num Pages

11

Volume Number

19

Issue Number

2

Publisher

De Gruyter

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