- Speaker
- Date
- Monday 2 Sep 2024, 11:30 - 12:30
- Type
- Seminar
- Room
- 2-04
- Building
- Polak Building
![A frog perspective of the inside of a modern prison block, specifically depictions the rows of cells](/sites/corporate/files/styles/responsive_w50/public/2022-02/pexels-xiaoyi-5377053.jpg.webp?itok=T4735FrY)
Peer interactions play a key role in the criminal sector due to its secrecy and lack of formal institutions. A significant part of criminal peer exposure happens in prison, directly influenced by policymakers. This paper provides a broader understanding of how peer effects shape criminal behavior among prison inmates, focusing on co-inmate impacts on recidivism and criminal network formation.
Joint work with Julian Johnsen (Bergen)
Using Norwegian register data on over 140,000 prison spells, we causally identify peer effects through within-prison variation in peers over time. Our analysis reveals several new insights.
First, exposure to more experienced co-inmates increases recidivism. Second, exposure to 'top criminals' (i.e. those with extreme levels of criminal experience) plays a distinctive role in shaping these recidivism patterns. Third, inmates form lasting criminal networks, as proxied by post-incarceration co-offending. Fourth, homophily intensifies these peer effects.
These findings contribute to the theoretical understanding of peer influences in criminal activities and offer practical insights for reducing recidivism through strategic inmate grouping and prison management policies.
Registration for bilateral, lunch or dinner
If you would like to meet the guest speaker for a bilateral, join for lunch or dinner, then please register by filling in the registration form.
See also
No event items found.