Cost of Crime and Victimization

State compensation programs paid crime victims and their families $460 million in benefits in the federal fiscal year 2002, which represents an increase of $90 million from 2001 and an increase of $140 million increase from 2000. (National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards NACVCB. 2003. www.nacvcb.org. Site visited 10/30/03.)

In 2002, 41 percent of all payments were made for medical and dental costs, 26 percent for lost wages and lost support, and 15 percent for mental health costs. (Ibid.)

Since 1997, there has been an 82.5 percent increase in payments from state compensation programs. (Ibid.)

The NACVCB reports that 26 percent of adults receiving crime victim compensation benefits in 2002 were domestic violence victims. (Ibid)

Child victims of physical and sexual abuse received another 23 percent of all claims paid in 2002. (Ibid.)

The direct tangible costs to crime victims annually are estimated to be $105 billion in medical expenses, lost earnings, and public program costs related to victim assistance. Pain, suffering and reduced quality of life increase the cost to $450 billion annually. (National Institute of Justice NIJ. 1996. Victim Costs and Consequences: A New Look. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice.)

The direct cost of hospitalization for child abuse victims is estimated at $6.2 billion a year. The direct cost of mental health services is over $425 million a year. (Prevent Child Abuse America. 2001. Total Estimated Cost ofChild Abuse and Neglect in the United States. Chicago, IL.)

The Internet Fraud Complaint Center reported a $54 million loss in 2002, making a significant change from the $17 million loss in 2001. Of the people who filed claims to the IFCC, only 1 in 4 had contacted law enforcement. (National White Collar Crime Center. 2003. 2002 Internet Fraud Report. Richmond, VA.)

Securities regulators estimate that securities and commodities fraud totals approximately $40 billion a year. (National White Collar Crime Center. 2003. Securities Fraud. Richmond, VA.)

Check fraud is estimated to cost United States businesses $10 billion a year. Experts anticipate a 2.5 percent increase in check fraud losses each year. (National White Collar Crime Center. 2002. Check Fraud. Richmond, VA.)

Consumers and others lose an estimated $1 million hourly - $40 billion annually - to telemarketing fraud. In 2002, the average loss due to telemarketing fraud was $845. (National White Collar Crime Center. 2003. Telemarketing Fraud. Richmond, VA.)

Insurance fraud costs the US economy $80 billion each year, according to the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud. (National White Collar Crime Center. 2002. Insurance Fraud. Richmond, VA.)