How to Succeed in Criminal Justice Without Really Trying

Abstract

We examined the incentive structure of the various actors of the criminal justice system within an organization economics framework. Specifically, we examined the incentives of the police, forensic scientists, prosecutors and public defenders. We found that police, prosecutors and forensic scientists often have an incentive to garner convictions with little incentive to convict the right person, whereas public defenders lack incentives to provide a vigorous defense for their clients. Further, we analyzed the role this skewed incentive structure plays in leading to false convictions.

Keywords: multitask problem, criminal justice, forensic science, false convictions

JEL Classification: K14, L32, D2, D73