Victims in Society Fall 00
10/4/00

MEMO ON COST ACCOUNTING FOR VICTIMIZATION AND POLICY
   In class on Monday we worked through an example on the policy implications of documenting the "full" costs borne by victims of their victimization incidents
   STARTING POINTS. Everything that is a COST either to the CJS or to an individual or society is shown as a negative number. Everything that is a BENEFIT OR A SAVINGS is shown as a positive number. Presume further that we know the offender if released will commit one and only one sexual assault in the following year. If the "bottom line" comes out negative, more money has been spent than saved. If the bottom line comes out positive, more money has been saved than has been spent.
   THE QUESTION: Do we keep the person in prison for another year, or do we release him on parole?
   IF THE FULL COSTS OF A SEXUAL ASSAULT ARE IGNORED: we only pay attention to things like work days lost, or short term medical costs, and think overlook things like impaired quality of life, long term counseling or health or mental health impacts, a sexual assault only costs the victim about $5,000. So here is the cost accounting.

IGNORING FULL COSTS

Decision	Keep in Prison	Release
Prison costs 1 Yr	- $30,000	+ $30,000
Parole Supervision		- $5,000
Sexual Assault	+ $5,000	- $5,000
BOTTOM LINE	- $25,000	+ $20,000

CONSIDERING FULL COSTS

Decision	Keep in Prison	Release
Prison costs 1 Yr	- $30,000	+ $30,000
Parole Supervision		- $5,000
Sexual Assault	+ $87,000	- $87,000
BOTTOM LINE	+ $57,000	- $62,000

NOTE ALSO - who bears the costs and benefits differ depending on the cost accounting. With the full cost accounting, the individual victim bears far more of the costs than does the CJS. With the minimal cost accounting, it looks like the CJS is bearing most of the cost.