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Bounding reasonable doubt: implications for plea bargaining

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  • Yacov Tsur

    (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

Abstract

A bound for reasonable doubt is offered based on the cost of type I and type II errors. The bound increases with the punishment, hence its use as a conviction threshold may leave too many offenders of severe crimes at large. Plea bargaining addresses this limitation but introduces strategic interaction between concerned parties. Considering strategic interaction between defendants and judge/jury, it is shown that to any plea offer there corresponds a unique equilibrium. Moreover, all equilibria share the same conviction threshold, given by the reasonable doubt bound. The latter property ensures that the plea bargaining procedure is consistent with the ‘equality before the law’ principle. The former property (that to any plea offer there corresponds a unique equilibrium) bears implications for the design of plea bargain schemes.

Suggested Citation

  • Yacov Tsur, 2017. "Bounding reasonable doubt: implications for plea bargaining," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 44(2), pages 197-216, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:ejlwec:v:44:y:2017:i:2:d:10.1007_s10657-016-9554-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s10657-016-9554-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Christmann, Robin & Kirstein, Roland, 2020. "You go First! Coordination Problems and the Standard of Proof in Inquisitorial Prosecution," MPRA Paper 99686, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Robin Christmann, 2023. "Plea bargaining and investigation effort: inquisitorial criminal procedure as a three-player game," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 497-532, December.
    3. Tsur, Yacov, 2022. "Political tenure, term limits and corruption," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    4. Christmann, Robin, 2021. "Plea Bargaining and Investigation Effort: Inquisitorial Criminal Procedure as a Three-Player Game," MPRA Paper 108976, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Konstantinos Ioannidis & Theo Offerman & Randolph Sloof, 2020. "Lie detection: A strategic analysis of the Verifiability Approach," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 20-029/I, Tinbergen Institute.
    6. Robin Christmann & Roland Kirstein, 2023. "You go first!: coordination problems and the burden of proof in inquisitorial prosecution," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 56(2), pages 403-422, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Reasonable doubt; Conviction threshold; Plea bargaining; Perfect Bayesian equilibrium;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K1 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law
    • K4 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior

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