Laffer's day in court: The revenue effects of criminal justice fees and fines

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Norris, Samuel; Rose, Evan K.
• 署名单位: University of British Columbia; University of Chicago; National Bureau of Economic Research
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2024.105249
• 发表日期: 2024
• 关键词: Fines and fees; Criminal justice system; Local government funding

摘要

Many jurisdictions levy sizable fines and fees (legal financial obligations, or LFOs) on criminal defendants. Proponents argue LFOs area tax on crimethat funds courts and provides deterrence; opponents argue they do neither. We examine the fiscal implications of lowering LFOs. Incentives to default generate a Laffercurve with revenue eventually decreasing in LFOs. Using detailed administrative data, however, we find few defendants demonstrably on the right-hand side of the curve. Those who are tend to be poor, Black, and charged with felonies. Asa result, decreasing LFOs for the average defendant would come at substantial cost to governments.