The Impact of Sodomy Law Repeals on Crime

TL;DR

This study examines how repealing sodomy laws in U.S. states affected crime rates, finding that such legal changes reduced arrests for various offenses including sex crimes and substance-related crimes.

Contribution

It provides the first empirical evidence linking sodomy law repeals to declines in specific crime arrests using difference-in-difference and event-study methods.

Findings

Decline in arrests for disorderly conduct and sex offenses

Reduction in arrests for drug and alcohol consumption

Legal reforms associated with decreased crime-related arrests

Abstract

We exploit variation in the timing of decriminalization of same-sex sexual intercourse across U.S. states to estimate the impact of these law changes on crime through difference-in-difference and event-study models. We provide the first evidence that sodomy law repeals led to a decline in the number of arrests for disorderly conduct, prostitution, and other sex offenses. Furthermore, we show that these repeals led to a reduction in arrests for drug and alcohol consumption.