Adolescent Victimization and Income Deficits in Adulthood: Rethinking the Costs of Criminal Violence from a Life-Course Perspective

• NCJ Number: 183214
• Journal: Criminology Volume: 38 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2000 Pages: 553-588
• Author(s): Ross Macmillan
• Date Published: May 2000
• Length: 36 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article proposes a life-course model for estimating the long-term costs of violent victimization.

Abstract

Traditionally, estimates of the financial costs of criminal violence focus on short-term costs, costs connected with the victimization event itself and costs incurred during the immediate aftermath. Using prospective, longitudinal data from a national sample of American adolescents and retrospective data from a national sample of Canadians, this study attempted to determine the effects of violence on socioeconomic fortunes. Income losses from violent victimization were age-graded, with the greatest costs occurring for victimization experienced in adolescence. Criminal violence experienced in adolescence appeared to influence later earnings by disrupting processes of educational and occupational attainment. Total costs of criminal violence over the life course of adolescents were considerable in comparison to estimates provided in previous research. Notes, tables, figure, references, appendixes