In a recent post Fordham Law Professor John Pfaff asks the question "How many studies show that severe sanctions are an effective way to deter crime?"  He answers his own question, "None."   In his piece today in Liberty Unyielding, attorney Hans Bader begs to differ, citing university and government studies that indicate that the level of punishment has a strong effect on criminal behavior.  To illustrate this point Bader compares the level of crime in Fairfax County, Virginia and Montgomery County, Maryland.  The two neighboring counties are demographically and economically similar but Fairfax County has a much lower crime rate.  Is this the result of this Maryland's more permissive sentencing and parole policies compared to Virginia's tough sentencing and limits on parole?  One study found that in 2008 the rate of violent crimes per 100,000 residents in Montgomery County was 235 compared to 78 in Fairfax County.  Comparing the states, the FBI Uniform Crime Report indicates that in 2017 the violent crime rate per 100,000 in Maryland was 500, with homicide at 9.  That same year in Virginia violent crime was 208 per 100,000 and homicide was 5.3.  In which state would Professor Pfaff like to live?