Citation

Lewis DE. Br. J. Criminol. 1986; 26(1): 47-62.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1986, Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, Publisher Oxford University Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Taken as a whole the studies reviewed constitute a substantial body of evidence which is largely consistent with the existence of a deterrent effect from longer sentences. This conclusion must still be considered tentative for several reasons. None of the studies is totally devoid of the kinds of problems discussed above. There remains substantial room for improvement in the underlying theory, data sources and methods of statistical inference and design. In addition, the evidence concerning the magnitude of the deterrent effect of longer sentences for various crimes is far from uniform. Nevertheless, impartial analysis of the best available evidence suggests that criminals do respond to incentives and that longer sentences do deter crime.