Only a Matter of Time? The Role of Criminal Competence in Avoiding Arrest. (7th June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ouellet, Frédéric; Bouchard, Martin
• Is Part Of: Justice quarterly. Volume 34:Number 4(2017)
• Page Start: 699
• Page End: 726
• Publication Date: 2017-06-07
• Subjects: arrest -- criminal competence -- criminal efficiency -- exposure time -- criminal careers -- life history calendars; Criminal justice, Administration of -- Periodicals; Criminal justice, Administration of -- United States -- Periodicals; 340.11405
• DOI: 10.1080/07418825.2016.1219761
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0741-8825

Abstract

Abstract : While prior research has shown that the probability of detection plays a role in the decision-making of many offenders, much less is known on offenders' relative success in avoiding arrest. In this study, we draw from detailed criminal career data on 172 offenders involved in lucrative criminal activities to examine the role of criminal competence in the probability of being arrested in a given month. We examine a particular aspect of competence, criminal efficiency, which is defined as the ability to earn a relatively large amount of money for each crime committed. Our research design allows us to disentangle the effect of criminal efficiency as a static trait of offenders from the dynamic variations in efficiency that offenders experience over time. Results show that efficiency is a strong, negative predictor of arrest, both at the static and dynamic levels.