Legality and Reality: Some Evidence on Criminal Procedure (original) (raw)

This study addresses the pressing issues faced by the criminal justice system, particularly focusing on the functioning of criminal courts amid rising crime rates and systemic inadequacies. By employing quantitative economic techniques, it analyzes data from a random sample of defendants in New York City to test hypotheses concerning bail determination and its implications on plea bargaining and sentencing outcomes. Key findings indicate significant factors influencing pretrial status and the predictive value of these factors regarding defendants' post-release conduct.