TY - JOUR AU1 - Bhuller, Manudeep AU2 - Dahl, Gordon B. AU3 - Løken, Katrine V. AU4 - Mogstad, Magne AB - Using a random judge design and panel data from Norway, we estimate that imprisonment discourages further criminal behavior, with reoffense probabilities falling by 29 percentage points and criminal charges dropping by 11 over a 5-year period. Ordinary least squares mistakenly reaches the opposite conclusion. The decline is driven by individuals not working prior to incarceration; these individuals increase participation in employment programs and raise their future employment and earnings. Previously employed individuals experience lasting negative employment effects. These findings demonstrate that time spent in prison with a focus on rehabilitation can be preventive for a large segment of the criminal population. TI - Incarceration, Recidivism, and Employment JF - Journal of Political Economy DO - 10.1086/705330 DA - 2020-04-01 UR - https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/university-of-chicago-press/incarceration-recidivism-and-employment-9xY0K2DUVN SP - 1269 EP - 1324 VL - 128 IS - 4 DP - DeepDyve ER -