NCJ Number
148866
Date Published
1993
Length
200 pages
Annotation
This analysis compiles the cost of fighting and preventing crime in the French department of Yvelines.
Abstract
The study intended to develop and test a procedure of gathering detailed, systematic, and accurate financial information, which could be used in other departments or on a national level. The information, which was obtained mainly from agency budgets, covered three areas: crime repression, prevention, and private security initiatives. Crime repression included the cost of maintaining the police and the court system, and the cost of executing sentences (i.e., prisons, probation services, juvenile protection agencies). Crime prevention included the cost of police preventive action as well as special prevention programs including the prevention of juvenile delinquency. Private security initiatives covered the cost of insurances, security installations, and private police. For each area, the study computed the cost to the national government, the department, the community, and private organizations. The results indicated that most of the national government funds were used for crime repression while the department paid mostly for crime prevention. The community expenses were devoted foremost to maintaining the local police and then to generalized social actions. Overall, the cost of crime prevention exceeded that of crime repression. Numerous charts and graphs as well as methodical considerations are appended.