AEA Papers and Proceedings
ISSN 2574-0768 (Print) | ISSN 2574-0776 (Online)
Reform Prosecutors and the Footprint of the Criminal Justice System
AEA Papers and Proceedings
(pp. 388–392)
Abstract
Elected prosecutors exercise substantial discretion over criminal charges and case dispositions, shaping the footprint of the criminal justice system. We study how the election of reform-minded prosecutors affects charging and conviction outcomes using variation in the timing of prosecutors’ inaugurations across US counties. Employing a staggered difference-in-differences design, we find that reform prosecutors significantly reduce misdemeanor convictions per capita by about 17 percent, driven largely by declines in misdemeanor charging, particularly for drug offenses. We find smaller, suggestive reductions in felony convictions and no robust changes in felony charging.Citation
Agan, Amanda, Jennifer L. Doleac, Anna Harvey, Anna Kyriazis, and Lauren Schechter. 2026. "Reform Prosecutors and the Footprint of the Criminal Justice System." AEA Papers and Proceedings 116: 388–392. DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20261051Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- H76 State and Local Government: Other Expenditure Categories
- K41 Litigation Process
- K42 Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law