TY - JOUR

T1 - The Effects of DNA Databases on the Deterrence and Detection of Offenders

AU - Anker, Anne Sofie Tegner

AU - Doleac, Jennifer L.

AU - Landerso, Rasmus

PY - 2021/10

Y1 - 2021/10

N2 - This paper studies the effects of adding criminal offenders to a DNA database. Using a large expansion of Denmark's DNA database, we find that DNA registration reduces recidivism within the following year by up to 42 percent. It also increases the probability that offenders are identified if they recidivate, which we use to estimate the elasticity of crime with respect to the detection probability and find that a 1 percent higher detection probability reduces crime by more than 2 percent. We also find that DNA registration increases the likelihood that offenders find employment, enroll in education, and live in a more stable family environment.

AB - This paper studies the effects of adding criminal offenders to a DNA database. Using a large expansion of Denmark's DNA database, we find that DNA registration reduces recidivism within the following year by up to 42 percent. It also increases the probability that offenders are identified if they recidivate, which we use to estimate the elasticity of crime with respect to the detection probability and find that a 1 percent higher detection probability reduces crime by more than 2 percent. We also find that DNA registration increases the likelihood that offenders find employment, enroll in education, and live in a more stable family environment.

KW - CRIME

KW - RECIDIVISM

KW - PRISON

U2 - 10.1257/app.20190207

DO - 10.1257/app.20190207

M3 - Journal article

VL - 13

SP - 194

EP - 225

JO - American Economic Journal: Applied Economics

JF - American Economic Journal: Applied Economics

SN - 1945-7782

IS - 4

ER -