This paper studies the effects of adding criminal offenders to a DNA database. Using a large expansion of Denmark’s DNA database, we find that DNA registration reduces recidivism within the following year by up to 42 percent. It also increases the probability that offenders are identified if they recidivate, which we use to estimate the elasticity of crime with respect to the detection probability and find that a 1 percent higher detection probability reduces crime by more than 2 percent. We also find that DNA registration increases the likelihood that offenders find employment, enroll in education, and live in a more stable family environment. (JEL J22, J24, K42)

中文翻译：

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DNA 数据库对罪犯的威慑和侦查的作用

本文研究了将刑事罪犯添加到 DNA 数据库的影响。通过对丹麦 DNA 数据库的大规模扩展，我们发现 DNA 注册可将次年的累犯率降低 42%。它还增加了犯罪者在再犯时被识别的概率，我们用它来估计犯罪相对于侦查概率的弹性，并发现侦查概率高 1% 可将犯罪率降低 2% 以上。我们还发现 DNA 登记增加了罪犯找到工作、接受教育和生活在更稳定的家庭环境中的可能性。(JEL J22, J24, K42)