Details

Subject(s)

• Criminal statistics—United States [Browse]
• Punishment in crime deterrence—United States [Browse]

Related name

• Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [Browse]
• University of California, Los Angeles. Department of Economics [Browse]

Series

• ICPSR (Series) ; 8677. [More in this series]
• ICPSR ; 8677

Restrictions note

Use of these data is restricted to Princeton University students, faculty, and staff for non-commercial statistical analysis and research purposes only.

Summary note

This study re-analyzes Isaac Ehrlich's 1960 cross-section data on the relationship between aggregate levels of punishment and crime rates. It provides alternative model specifications and estimations. The study examined the deterrent effects of punishment on seven FBI index crimes: murder, rape, assault, larceny, robbery, burglary, and auto theft. Socio-economic variables include family income, percentage of families earning below half of the median income, unemployment rate for urban males in the age groups 14-24 and 35-39, labor force participation rate, educational level, percentage of young males and non-whites in the population, percentage of population in the SMSA, sex ratio, and place of occurrence. Two sanction variables are also included: 1) the probability of imprisonment, and 2) the average time served in prison when sentenced (severity of punishment). Also included are: per capita police expenditure for 1959 and 1960, and the crime rates for murder, rape, assault, larceny, robbery, burglary, and auto theft.

Notes

• Codebook available in print and electronic format.
• Title from title screen (viewed on Dec. 1, 2004).
• "First ICPSR Edition"--T.p. of accompanying codebook.
• "Spring 1987"--T.p. of accompanying codebook.

Type of data

Extent of collection: 1 data file + machine-readable documentation (PDF).

Time and place of event

Date(s) of collection: 1960.

Geographic coverage

Geographic coverage: United States.

Funding information

• Funding agency: United States Department of Justice. National Institute of Justice.
• Grant number: J-LEAA-006-76.

System details

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Case file characteristics

1 rectangular file, 47 cases, 66 variables, 501 character logical record length, 1 record per case.

Methodology note

Data source: (1) U.S. Census, (2) FBI Uniform Crime Reports,and (3) National Prison Statistics.

Cite as

Vandaele, Walter. PARTICIPATION IN ILLEGITIMATE ACTIVITIES: EHRLICH REVISITED, 1960 [Computer file]. ICPSR08677-v1. Los Angeles, CA: Walter Vandaele, University of California-Los Angeles, Department of Economics [producer], 1987. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 1987.

Statement on language in description

Princeton University Library aims to describe library materials in a manner that is respectful to the individuals and communities who create, use, and are represented in the collections we manage. Read more...