The Short- and Long-Run Effects of Private Law Enforcement: Evidence from University Police

36 Pages Posted: 14 Feb 2015

See all articles by Paul S. Heaton

Paul S. Heaton

University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School

Priscillia Hunt

RAND Corporation

John MacDonald

University of Pennsylvania

Jessica Saunders

RAND Corporation

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Abstract

Over a million people in the United States are employed in private security and law enforcement, yet very little is known about the effects of private police on crime. The current study examines the relationship between a privately-funded university police force and crime in a large U.S. city. Following an expansion of the jurisdictional boundary of the private police force, we see no short-term change in crime. However, using a geographic regression discontinuity approach, we find large impacts of private police on public safety, with violent crime in particular decreasing. These contradictory results appear to be a consequence of delayed effect of private police on crime.

Keywords: law enforcement, privately provided public good, crime

JEL Classification: K42, H41

Suggested Citation

Heaton, Paul S. and Hunt, Priscillia and MacDonald, John and Saunders, Jessica, The Short- and Long-Run Effects of Private Law Enforcement: Evidence from University Police. IZA Discussion Paper No. 8800, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2564933 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2564933

Paul S. Heaton (Contact Author)

University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School ( email )

3501 Sansom Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
United States

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.law.upenn.edu/cf/faculty/pheaton/

Priscillia Hunt

RAND Corporation ( email )

1776 Main Street
P.O. Box 2138
Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138
United States

John MacDonald

University of Pennsylvania ( email )

483 McNeil Building
3718 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104
United States
215-646-3623 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.crim.upenn.edu/faculty_macdonald.htm

Jessica Saunders

RAND Corporation ( email )

1776 Main Street
P.O. Box 2138
Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138
United States

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