"Prior to 1968 economic contributions in the area of crime were few. Economists generally disregarded the field of crime and law enforcement. These topics were considered outside the realm of economic analysis and were thus precluded from economic investigation. The literature relating to punishment and deterrence was mostly of an unscientific nature. The “theory” of punishment was largely composed of recommendations made by sociologists that were not based on any rigorous empirical investigation." (Quoted from paper)