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What Can DNA Exonerations Tell Us about Racial Differences in Wrongful-Conviction Rates?

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  • David Bjerk
  • Eric Helland

Abstract

We show that data on DNA exonerations can be informative about racial differences in wrongful-conviction rates under some assumptions regarding the DNA-exoneration process. We argue that, with respect to rape cases, the observed data and the plausibility of the required assumptions combine to strongly suggest that the wrongful-conviction rate is significantly higher among black convicts than white convicts. By contrast, we argue that the ability of data on DNA exonerations to reveal information about racial differences in wrongful-conviction rates for murder is much more limited.

Suggested Citation

  • David Bjerk & Eric Helland, 2020. "What Can DNA Exonerations Tell Us about Racial Differences in Wrongful-Conviction Rates?," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 63(2), pages 341-366.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlawec:doi:10.1086/707080
    DOI: 10.1086/707080
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    Cited by:

    1. Paul Bose & Eberhard Feess & Helge Mueller, 2022. "Favoritism towards High-Status Clubs: Evidence from German Soccer," The Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization, Oxford University Press, vol. 38(2), pages 422-478.
    2. d'Este, Rocco & Yuchtman, Noam, 2023. "Correcting Racial Injustice: Forensic DNA Technology and the Exoneration of the Wrongfully Convicted," IZA Discussion Papers 16076, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Lundberg, Alexander & Mungan, Murat, 2022. "The effect of evidentiary rules on conviction rates," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 563-576.

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