A Cost-benefit Analysis of Alternative Response: Using a Bottom-up Costing Approach to Estimate the Per-call Cost and Benefits of Alternative Response Compared to Traditional Police Response

• In Event: Implementation, Outcomes and Cost-Benefit of Alternative Response Strategies

Abstract

Communities considering implementing alternative response programs not only require evidence about potential impacts of the program but also evidence that public money would be well spent and information on the resources required to implement. We employ the activity-based costing approach to systematically identify the resources used and to estimate the cost-per-call of alternative response programs compared to traditional police response at two study sites. We also leverage data from the outcomes study to monetize benefits of key outcomes like arrests, citations, and voluntary transports. Using these data, we perform a cost-benefit analysis. This presentation will describe the methods and data used and the present results.

Authors

• Alan Barnosky, RTI International

• Kristin Stainbrook, RTI International

• Sean Wire, RTI International