Does Strengthening Self-Defense Law Deter Crime or Escalate Violence?:Evidence from Expansions to Castle Doctrine
From 2000 to 2010, more than 20 states passed so-called “Castle Doctrine” or “stand your ground” laws. These laws expand the legal justification for the use of lethal force in self-defense, thereby lowering the expected cost of using lethal force and increasing the expected cost of committing violent crime. This paper exploits the within-state variation in self-defense law to examine their effect on homicides and violent crime. Results indicate the laws do not deter burglary, robbery, or aggravated assault. In contrast, they lead to a statistically significant 8 percent net increase in the number of reported murders and nonnegligent manslaughters.
Year of publication: |
2013
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Authors: | Cheng, Cheng ; Hoekstra, Mark |
Published in: |
Journal of Human Resources. - University of Wisconsin Press. - Vol. 48.2013, 3
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Publisher: |
University of Wisconsin Press |
Saved in:
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