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The Deterrent Effect Of Surveillance Cameras On Crime

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Listed:
  • Santiago Gómez
  • Daniel Mejía
  • Santiago Tobón

Abstract

From the U.S. to Colombia to China, millions of public surveillance cameras are at the core of crime prevention strategies. Yet, we know little about the effects of surveillance cameras on criminal behavior, especially in developing economies. We study an installation program in Medellín and find that the quasi‐random allocation of cameras led to a decrease in crimes and arrests. With no increase in the monitoring capacity and no chance to use camera footage in prosecution, these results suggest offenders were deterred rather than incapacitated. We test for spillovers and find no evidence of crime displacement or diffusion of benefits to surrounding locations.

Suggested Citation

  • Santiago Gómez & Daniel Mejía & Santiago Tobón, 2021. "The Deterrent Effect Of Surveillance Cameras On Crime," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(2), pages 553-571, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jpamgt:v:40:y:2021:i:2:p:553-571
    DOI: 10.1002/pam.22280
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    Cited by:

    1. Daniel Mejía & Ervyn Norza & Santiago Tobón & Martín Vanegas-Arias, 2022. "Broken windows policing and crime: Evidence from 80 Colombian cities," Chapters, in: Paolo Buonanno & Paolo Vanin & Juan Vargas (ed.), A Modern Guide to the Economics of Crime, chapter 4, pages 55-87, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    2. Mateo Dulce Rubio, 2019. "Predicting criminal behavior with Lévy flights using real data from Bogotá," Documentos CEDE 17198, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
    3. Escobar, Maria A. & Tobón, Santiago & Vanegas-Arias, Martín, 2023. "Production and persistence of criminal skills: Evidence from a high-crime context," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    4. Mateo Dulce Rubio, 2019. "Predicting criminal behavior with Levy flights using real data from Bogota," Documentos de Trabajo 17347, Quantil.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • D04 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Policy: Formulation; Implementation; Evaluation
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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