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Estimating the Effects of Police Technology Using Quasi-Experimental Methods

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 October 2017

Jillian B. Carr
Jillian B. Carr*
Affiliation:
Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Krannert School of Management, Purdue University, 403 W. State St, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2056, USA, e-mail: carr56@purdue.edu
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Abstract

Law enforcement agencies are adopting a variety of new surveillance technologies at a fast pace. These technologies could have substantial benefits in terms of public safety, but, for many of them, their ability to reduce crime is unknown. Although a small experimental literature addresses some of these technologies, many of the implementations have been too small to provide an accurate measurement of their potential. In this paper, I explore the advantages and make general suggestions about the use of quasi-experimental methodologies in estimating the public safety benefits of police technology. I also consider the specific case of license plate readers and provide some examples of difference-in-differences approaches that could be used to study their efficacy.

Keywords

K14C23difference-in-differenceslaw and regulationlicense plate readerspolicequasi-experimentscience and technologysurveillance
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis , Volume 8 , Issue 3 , Fall 2017 , pp. 360 - 368
Copyright
© Society for Benefit-Cost Analysis 2017 

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