The Elementary Epistemic Arithmetic of Criminal Justice

15 Pages Posted: 1 Jul 2008

See all articles by Larry Laudan

Larry Laudan

University of Texas School of Law

Date Written: June 29, 2008

Abstract

It has long been recognized that the yardsticks for assessing the reliability and the fairness of the criminal justice system must be quantitative in nature. This essay explores some of the key ratios pertinent to any system of criminal justice. It shows why the ratios commonly invoked divert attention away from the relationships that should be our primary concern.

Keywords: Blackstone ratio, false convictions, social contract

Suggested Citation

Laudan, Larry, The Elementary Epistemic Arithmetic of Criminal Justice (June 29, 2008). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1152882 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1152882

Larry Laudan (Contact Author)

University of Texas School of Law ( email )

727 East Dean Keeton Street
Austin, TX 78705
United States

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