Making the Case for Domestic Violence Prevention; Appendix C: Costs of Domestic Violence

Manual: Making the Cost Benefit Case for Domestic Violence Prevention

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Making the Case for Domestic Violence Prevention Through the Lens of Cost-Benefit

A Manual for Domestic Violence Prevention Practitioners
(and the State and Local Policy-Makers They Present to)

Appendix C: Costs of Domestic Violence

The following material is excerpted from: Measuring the Costs and Benefits of Crime and Justice by Mark A. Cohen, Criminal Justice 2000, Vol. 4, pp. 274-275.

**Cost of domestic violence chart**
Cost of domestic violence	Party who directly bears cost*
Medical and mental health care
Charges not reimbursed by insurance	Victim
Charges reimbursed by insurance	Society
Administrative cost: Insurance reimbursement	Society
Victim services
Expenses charged to victim	Victim
Expenses paid by agency	Society
Temporary labor and training of replacements	Society
Lost workdays
Lost wages for unpaid workdays lost	Victim
Lost productivity for paid workdays	Society
Lost schooldays
Foregone wages due to lack of education	Victim
Forgone nonpecuniary benefits of education	Victim
Foregone social benefits due to lack of education	Society
Lost housework	Victim
Pain and suffering/quality of life	Victim
Loss of affection / enjoyment	Victim’s family
Death
Value of life	Victim
Funeral and burial expenses	Victim’s family
Loss of affection / enjoyment	Victim’s family
Psychological injury / treatment	Victim’s family
Legal costs associated with tort claims	Victim or victim’s family
Long-term consequences of victimization	Future victims and society
*Ignores any recovery from offenders through legal action. Source: Adapted from Cohen, Miller, and Rossman 1994.

**Cost of society's response to domestic violence chart**
Cost of society’s response to domestic violence	Party who directly bears cost*
Precautionary expenditures / effort	Potential victim
Fear of domestic violence	Potential victim
Criminal justice system
Police and investigative costs	Society
Prosecutors	Society
Courts	Society
Legal fees
Public defenders	Society
Private	Offenders
Incarceration	Society
Nonincarcerative sanctions	Society
Victim’s time	Victim
Jury’s and witness’ time	Jury/witness
Victim services
Victim service organizations	Society/volunteers
Victim compensation programs	Society
Victim’s time	Victim
Other noncriminal programs
Hotlines and public service announcements	Society/volunteers
Community treatment programs	Society
Private therapy / counseling	Society/offender
Community prevention programs	Volunteers
Incarcerated offender
Lost wages	Offender/family
Lost tax revenue and productivity	Society
Value of lost freedom	Offender
Psychological cost to family	Family of offender
*Ignores any recovery from offenders through legal action. Source: Adapted from Cohen, Miller, and Rossman 1994.