Release, Detain, or Surveil? The Effect of Electronic Monitoring on Defendant Outcomes†

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Rivera, Roman
• 署名单位: Georgetown University
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC JOURNAL-APPLIED ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1945-7782
• DOI: 10.1257/app.20240517
• 发表日期: 2026
• 关键词: PRETRIAL DETENTION; recidivism; models; prison; crime; COSTS

摘要

This paper studies the effect of pretrial electronic monitoring (EM) relative to both pretrial release and pretrial detention (jail). EM often involves a defendant wearing an electronic bracelet, which aims to reduce pretrial misconduct at a low cost. Using the quasi-random assignment of bond court judges, I estimate the effect of EM versus release and EM versus detention on pretrial misconduct, case outcomes, future recidivism, and aggregate total costs. Results indicate that EM reduces overall costs relative to detention. However, EM does not prevent enough high-cost crime to justify its use relative to release. (JEL K14, K41, K42)