COST OF
CRIME
Nearly 18 million violent and non-violent crime victimizations (77 percent of all
victimizations) resulted in economic losses in 2002.21
Crime is estimated to create $105 billion in medical expenses, lost earnings, and
costs for victim services. Factoring in the intangible costs,
such as pain and suffering and a reduced quality of life, brings
the total estimated cost of crime to $450 billion
annually.22
Victims of violent crime and their families received benefits totaling $442.3 billion in federal
fiscal year 2003. While California (the largest victim
compensation program in the nation) experienced a drop
of close to $43 million in fiscal year 2003, compensation in the other
51 jurisdictions (including Washington, DC, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto
Rico) grew by $26 million.23
Medical expenses were 48 percent of all victim compensation payments
in 2003; economic support for lost wages for injured victims and
for lost support in homicides comprised 21 percent of the total;
and 12 percent went toward mental health counseling for crime
victims.24
In 2003, total monetary loss due to telemarketing fraud was
$1,764,433, for an average of $1,504 for each case.25
Reported burglaries resulted
in an estimated monetary loss of $3.5 billion, with an estimated
average of $1,626 per burglary.26
In 2003, the average value of property
stolen due to larceny-theft was $698. Cumulatively, $4.9 billion in
property was stolen.27
The average monetary value of motor vehicles stolen in
2003 was $6,797. The total value of stolen motor vehicles was $8.6
billion.28
The average dollar loss due to arson offenses was
$11,942 per offense in 2003.29
Correctional authorities spend more than $38 billion
to maintain the nation's correctional systems in one year.30
21 Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2003) Criminal Victimization
in the United States, 2002 Table 83. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice
Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice.
22 Miller et al.
(1996). Victim Costs and Consequences: A New Look. Washington, DC:
National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice. Online:
http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles/victcost.pdf.
23 National Association of Crime
Victim Compensation Boards. (2004). "Compensation to Victims Continues to
Increase." Alexandria, VA: NACVCB. Online: http://www.nacvcb.org.
24
Ibid.
25 National Consumers League. (2004). 2003
Telemarketing Fraud Report. Washington, DC: National Consumers League
& National Fraud Information Center. Online:
http://www.fraud.org/telemarketing/03telereport.htm.
26 Federal Bureau of
Investigation. (2004). Crime in the United States, 2003.
Washington, DC: FBI, U.S. Department of Justice. Online:
http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius_03/pdf/03sec2.pdf.
27 Ibid.
28
Ibid.
29 Ibid.
30 Stephan, James. (2004). State Prison
Expenditures, 2001. Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S.
Department of Justice. Online:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/spe01.pdf.
31 Catalano, Shannan. (2004). Criminal
Victimization, 2003.
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