The Franchise, Policing, and Race: Evidence from Arrests Data and the Voting Rights Act
American Economic Journal: Applied Economics · 2025 · Giovanni Facchini、Brian Knight、Cecilia Testa
中文摘要
本文研究选举权与警务之间的关系。我们发现，1965年《投票权法》实施后，与未受该法覆盖的类似南部县相比，既有更多黑人新获得选举权、又受该法覆盖的县，其黑人被捕率有所下降。我们未发现白人被捕率存在相应的变化模式。我们的结果主要由治安官（治安官始终经选举产生）实施的逮捕、以及针对较轻罪行的逮捕所驱动。这些结果表明，当选举权与选举问责相结合时，警察对少数群体的待遇会得到改善。（JEL D72, J15, K16, K42, N32, N42）
Abstract
This paper investigates the relationship between the franchise and policing. We find that, following the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Black arrest rates in counties that both had more newly enfranchised Blacks and were covered by the legislation fell, compared to similar Southern counties that were not covered. We document no corresponding patterns for White arrests. Our results are driven by arrests by sheriffs, who are always elected, and by less serious offenses. These results indicate that voting rights, when combined with electoral accountability, lead to improved treatment of minority groups by police. (JEL D72, J15, K16, K42, N32, N42)