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Public Outrage And Criminal Justice: Lessons From The Jessica Lal Case

In: New And Enduring Themes In Development Economics

Author

Listed:
  • BRENDAN O'FLAHERTY

    (Department of Economics, Columbia University, USA)

  • RAJIV SETHI

    (Department of Economics, Barnard College, Columbia University, USA)

Abstract

Witness tampering and public outrage have combined to affect judicial outcomes in a series of high-profile criminal cases in India. We study how these phenomena operate together in a country with extremes of wealth and poverty, but with functioning judicial and political systems. Bribes and threats are intricately linked in the strategic interaction between offenders and witnesses. Not only do bribes provide a direct incentive that can suppress testimony, they also signal a greater likelihood of retaliation and hence serve as implicit threats to witnesses. The possibility of public outrage turns out to be an effective constraint on witness tampering. In many situations, greater media effectiveness can improve the administration of justice, even when more obvious improvements in judicial effectiveness cannot.

Suggested Citation

  • Brendan O'Flaherty & Rajiv Sethi, 2009. "Public Outrage And Criminal Justice: Lessons From The Jessica Lal Case," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Bhaskar Dutta & Tridip Ray & E Somanathan (ed.), New And Enduring Themes In Development Economics, chapter 7, pages 145-164, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:wschap:9789812839428_0007
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    Cited by:

    1. O’Flaherty, Brendan & Sethi, Rajiv, 2015. "Urban Crime," Handbook of Regional and Urban Economics, in: Gilles Duranton & J. V. Henderson & William C. Strange (ed.), Handbook of Regional and Urban Economics, edition 1, volume 5, chapter 0, pages 1519-1621, Elsevier.

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