Last week, France’s Nicholas Sarkozy became the first former president of a European Union state to serve time in prison. He will be held in solitary confinement, with limited phone access and scheduled visitation times. And while his case is unusual for the EU, it is far from unique. In democratic states, these types of prosecutions have become increasingly common in recent years. Countries like France, Brazil, and the United States have all seen intense legal and political battles over the prosecutions of their elected leaders.

Proponents of these prosecutions argue that they strengthen democracy by reinforcing accountability, while opponents counter that they erode trust and drive polarization. But what effect do these prosecutions actually have? To answer this question, we have created a comprehensive new dataset of modern leaders who have been prosecuted by their own governments. Our research confirmed that despite what men like Sarkozy, U.S. President Donald Trump, and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro may insist, prosecuting a former president or prime minister is a normal and healthy thing for advanced democracies to do.

Last week, France’s Nicholas Sarkozy became the first former president of a European Union state to serve time in prison. He will be held in solitary confinement, with limited phone access and scheduled visitation times. And while his case is unusual for the EU, it is far from unique. In democratic states, these types of........

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