Can Pre‐recorded Evidence Raise Conviction Rates in Cases of Domestic Violence?

Abstract

This paper explores the association between pre‐recorded evidence and court outcomes in cases of domestic violence. Net of controls and time fixed effects, we find that cases with pre‐recorded evidence are 3.4 percentage points more likely to result in a conviction. This increase occurs through three channels: a 5.6 percentage point increase in the probability of a conviction among (the one in four) cases that proceed to a defended hearing; a 2.4 percentage point increase in the probability of a guilty plea; and, a 2.4 percentage point decrease in the probability that the prosecution withdraws their case.