Mainstreaming Methodology for Estimating Costs of Crime
If you are coming new to the task of making cost of crime estimates be warned: it is a messy, time-consuming activity. Before you jump into collecting data the two critical things we suggest you do are:
1. Think about what the estimates are for. The methodology you use should reeflect these objectives. The ways in which you would go about answering the following (sensible and worthwhile) questions vary widely. Is your principal interest in:
a. estimating the total economic and social costs crime as a whole imposes on the economy?
b. estimating the costs of particular types of offences (e.g. house burglary or assault)?
c. estimating the cost saving to be had from successful crime reduction interventions?
d. estimating the benefits to a community of reducing crime by some percentage?
e. prioritising criminal justice policy options in a way that reflects costs and benefits?
2. Do some reading to familiarise yourself with how others have gone about the task. Browse this site (particularly the Outline strategy for building your own model, on the menu bar to the left side of the screen). But also have a look at the following references as a minimum:
Cohen, M. A. (2005). The Costs of Crime and Justice. New York, NY: Routledge.
Dubourg, R., J. Hamed, et al. (2005). 'The economic and social costs of crime against individuals and households 2003/04'. Home Office On-Line Report. London, Home Office
Kiah Rollings (2008) 'Counting the Costs of Crime in Australia: a 2005 update', Research and Public Policy Series 91, Canberra, Australian Institute of Criminology
