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Attempt at Measuring the Total Monetary Penalty From Drug Convictions: The Importance of an Individual's Reputation

NCJ Number
136798
Journal
Journal of Legal Studies Volume: 21 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1992) Pages: 159-187
Author(s)
J R Lott Jr
Date Published
1992
Length
29 pages
Annotation
This study measures the monetary penalty borne by those convicted of drug offenses.
Abstract
The study examined the sentences and the effect of conviction on the offender's legitimate income for persons convicted of Federal violations of heroin and cocaine distribution, importation, and possession in the District of Columbia. The data provide information on the extent of imprisonment, criminal fines and restitution, and the size of the dollar loss associated with conviction. All of the sentencing dates in the sample are within the period from July 1984 to July 1985. Those in the sample were released from supervision by July 1986. Income data include only legitimate sources of income and were obtained from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. The principal findings are that the most significant portion of the monetary penalty imposed on offenders takes the form of reduced legitimate earnings once they return to the labor force and that the overall penalty increases dramatically with the level of preconviction income. The estimates of this study indicate that lost postconviction income accounts for between 35 and 96 percent of the total pecuniary penalty borne by the average offender. 4 tables and 38 footnotes