Kevin Schnepel

Simon Fraser University Website

Kevin Schnepel is Associate Professor of Economics at Simon Fraser University. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Voting History

Pretrial detention

Reducing the number of people detained pretrial will lead to a net increase in crime in the medium- to long-term.

Vote Confidence
Disagree 8
Median Survey Vote Median Survey Confidence
Disagree 7
Comments

While there may be more crimes in between arrest and trial without pretrial detention, a medium- to long-term decrease in crime among those no longer detained pretrial (through less disruption in employment, less exposure to the carceral environment) likely outweighs any increase during the pretrial period.

Ending the use of cash bail will meaningfully reduce the number of people detained pretrial.

Vote Confidence
Neutral/No Opinion 5
Median Survey Vote Median Survey Confidence
Agree 7
Comments

I think it all depends on what, if anything, replaces cash bail. Would there be other requirements that may be hard for individuals to meet?

Using risk assessment to inform detention decisions will meaningfully reduce the number of people detained pretrial.

Vote Confidence
Disagree 6
Median Survey Vote Median Survey Confidence
Neutral/No Opinion 5
Comments

It could go in either direction depending on how risk assessment is done and where thresholds for detention decisions are set.