Estimating the Costs of Crime Victimization: An Assessment of the Field

• In Event: Studies of the Financial Costs of Crime Victimization

Abstract

Despite reductions in U.S. crime rates, crime victimization continues to be a pressing problem with enormous societal costs. Credible national estimates of victimization costs have fallen between 2% and 10% of the nation’s gross domestic product, which translates to hundreds of billions of dollars each year. State, local, and federal incarceration costs for crime cost taxpayers upwards of $80 billion per year alone. Understanding the financial costs of victimization enables policymakers and practitioners to use limited resources more efficiently. With this goal in mind, the National Institute of Justice funded a comprehensive assessment of the state of current research and methodologies related to estimating the costs of victimization, and to make a series of recommendations for the field based on this assessment. This study, conducted by Justice Research and Statistics Association (JRSA), The Urban Institute, and the National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC) in conjunction with a number of renowned costs experts and stakeholder groups, aimed to fill this gap. This presentation will summarize findings and recommendations for research from that study to advance the field.

Authors

• Kristina Lugo-Graulich, Justice Research and Statistics Association

• Roger Przybylski, Justice Research and Statistics Association

• Erin Farley, Justice Research and Statistics Association

• Susan Howley, Justice Research and Statistics Association

• Akiva Liberman, Urban Institute

• Jennifer Yahner, Urban Institute

• Malore Dusenbery, Urban Institute

• Storm Ervin, Urban Institute

• Erica Henderson, Urban Institute

• Jeremy Welsh-Loveman, Urban Institute