NCJ Number
112466
Journal
Law and Society Review Volume: 22 Issue: 3 Dated: (1988) Pages: 537-555
Date Published
1988
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study estimates the monetary cost of individual crimes by examining the pain, suffering, and fear endured by crime victims.
Abstract
It combines the methods of previous studies to arrive at crime-specific dollar estimates of the cost of pain, suffering, and fear experienced by crime victims. Estimates are based on the actual risk of injury and death confronting victims. Risks are converted into dollar amounts by considering court awards in personal injury cases for similar injuries and on estimates of the value of life. Using this formula, the cost to individual victims of rape is $51,058; to robbery victims, $12,594; to assault victims, $12,208, and to larceny victims, $181. The cost per individual household of motor vehicle theft is $3,127. The total aggregate cost of victims is $92.6 billion annually. The author demonstrates how these statistics can aid in the formulation of government crime policies. 39 references.