Abstract:
We analyze the relationship between a ‘weak judiciary’, as measured by the percentage of pending trials, and the propensity to engage in criminal activities. Using state-level panel data for India from 1995 to 2007, we look at the relationship between crime and court backlogs. Our estimations show that there is a positive relationship between
backlogs of cases in state High Courts and property crimes but not violent crimes. We argue that policies that increase the number of judges and justice and policing staff per capita are likely to reduce case backlogs by increasing the speed of investigations and case procedures. This in turn would reduce certain categories of crime.
