Randi Hjalmarsson

University of Gothenberg Website

Randi Hjalmarsson is Professor of Economics at the University of Gothenburg. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Yale University.

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

Research suggests that pre-trial detention has significant labor market scarring and criminogenic effects in the medium term; these harmful effects of pretrial detention are likely to outweigh the potential short run increases (in relatively minor offenses) if individuals are not incapacitated in pre-trial detention.

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

Vote Confidence
Agree 6
Median Survey Vote Median Survey Confidence
Agree 7
Comments

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

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

This likely depends on (i) the goal of the risk assessment (to reduce number detained? to reduce disparities in who is detained?) and (ii) whether judges or bail officers use significant discretion in deviating from the guidelines provided in the risk assessment tool.