Difference between revisions of "Estimation of the costs of crime"

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Although the table above is illustrating the situation for the Netherlands, the relative ratios of the serious offences (such as manslaughter and sexual offences) versus the by far more common property crimes and vandalism are also applicable to other EU-countries.
  
Although the table above is illustrating the situation for the Netherlands, the relative ratios of the serious offences (such as manslaughter and sexual offences) versus the by far more common property crimes and vandalism are also applicable to other EU-countries.
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==Estimation of the costs of criminal offences==
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The biggest cost factor by far are caused by harm to the victims. Costs as a result of loss of production due to theft or vandalism are as well substantial cost factors<ref>Ibid.</ref>. The table below illustrates an overview of the cost of criminal offences in the Netherlands.
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{| class="wikitable"
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|-
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! Category of crime !! Prevention !! Consequence !! Response !! Total
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|-
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| Murder and manslaughter|| 0|| 409|| 144||554
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|-
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| Sexual offences|| 0|| 322|| 143||466
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|-
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| Property crimes|| 3,263|| 6,627|| 1,982||11,872
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|-
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| Assault & battery|| 0|| 1,078|| 320||1,401
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|-
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| Threats|| 0|| 2,128|| 171||2,299
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|-
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| Vandalism and public order|| 178|| 1,669|| 550|| 2,397
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|-
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| Traffic offences|| 43|| 382|| 307|| 732
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|-
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| Economic offences|| 0|| 0|| 44|| 44
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|-
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| Drug offences|| 0|| 0|| 253|| 253
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|-
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| Other offences|| 0|| 0|| 153|| 153
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|-
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| '''Total'''|| '''3,484'''|| '''12,617''' || '''4,071'''|| '''20,173'''
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|}
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''Table: Total costs of offences committed in 2005 in the Netherlands (source: SEO, 2007, edited by Decisio)''
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The table above illustrates furthermore that property damage results in the most damage, which is primarily due to the relatively high number of property crimes committed.The emotional consequences of crime could also lead to a loss of productivity.
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== References ==
  
== References ==

Revision as of 09:36, 11 April 2012

Estimation of the costs of crime

The estimation of the impact (costs) of crime have received broad attention in economic literature and research, but the economic effect(s) and impact of crime on society is still an underexposed field of interest. The reason behind this is that it is very difficult to quantify the costs of for example the emotional and physical suffering of victims, or the quality of life that is reduced by the fear of crime. Below, we address some important methods, used by economists to estimate the costs of crime.

Estimating the number of offences committed

One of the most important difficulties with mapping the economic effects of crime is the fact that only a fraction of all offences committed are known. Especially offences that don’t involve victims are only known if they are detected by public authorities/the police. Researchers developed several methods such as the use of assumptions, multipliers and specific statistical techniques to deal with this issue, but it remains difficult to include all effects, because one should also include effects on the change in behaviour, mental health (including production loss due to emotional damage) and the harm done to the social environment of the victim and criminal offender.

A Dutch economic research agency[1] estimated the number of criminal offences committed in the Netherlands in 2005 (see table below):

Category of crime Number of offences % of total
Murder and manslaughter 174 0.001%
Sexual offences 181,000 1.5%
Property crimes 6,089,000 52.0%
Assault & battery 254,000 2.2%
Threats 867,000 7.4%
Vandalism and public order 3,020,000 25.8%
Traffic offences 753,000 6.4%
Economic offences 81,000 0.7%
Drug offences 382,000 3.3%
Other offences 82,000 0.7%
Total 11,709,174 100%

Table: Number of offences committed in 2005 in the Netherlands (source: SEO, 2007)

Although the table above is illustrating the situation for the Netherlands, the relative ratios of the serious offences (such as manslaughter and sexual offences) versus the by far more common property crimes and vandalism are also applicable to other EU-countries.


Estimation of the costs of criminal offences

The biggest cost factor by far are caused by harm to the victims. Costs as a result of loss of production due to theft or vandalism are as well substantial cost factors[2]. The table below illustrates an overview of the cost of criminal offences in the Netherlands.

Category of crime Prevention Consequence Response Total
Murder and manslaughter 0 409 144 554
Sexual offences 0 322 143 466
Property crimes 3,263 6,627 1,982 11,872
Assault & battery 0 1,078 320 1,401
Threats 0 2,128 171 2,299
Vandalism and public order 178 1,669 550 2,397
Traffic offences 43 382 307 732
Economic offences 0 0 44 44
Drug offences 0 0 253 253
Other offences 0 0 153 153
Total 3,484 12,617 4,071 20,173

Table: Total costs of offences committed in 2005 in the Netherlands (source: SEO, 2007, edited by Decisio)

The table above illustrates furthermore that property damage results in the most damage, which is primarily due to the relatively high number of property crimes committed.The emotional consequences of crime could also lead to a loss of productivity.







References

  1. ↑ SEO (2007). De kosten van criminaliteit.
  2. ↑ Ibid.

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