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The Deterrent Effect of Surveillance Cameras on Crime

Author

Listed:
  • Santiago Gómez
  • Daniel Mejía
  • Santiago Tobón

Abstract

From the US to Colombia to China, millions of public surveillance cameras are at the core of crime prevention strategies. Yet, little is known on the effects of surveillance cameras on criminal behavior. We study an installation program in Medellín and find that quasi-random allocation of cameras led to a decrease in crimes and arrests. With no increase in monitoring capacity and no chance to use camera footage in prosecution, the results suggest offenders were deterred rather than incapacitated. We find no evidence of close range negative or positive spillovers after the installation of the cameras.

Suggested Citation

  • Santiago Gómez & Daniel Mejía & Santiago Tobón, 2019. "The Deterrent Effect of Surveillance Cameras on Crime," Documentos CEDE 15295, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
    • Handle: RePEc:col:000089:015295
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    References listed on IDEAS

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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

    Keywords

    Public Surveillance Cameras; Deterrence; Incapacitation; Law Enforcement; Crime;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • 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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