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Trends & Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice

No. 247: Counting the costs of crime in Australia

Pat Mayhew (with assistance from Glenda Adkins)
ISBN 0 642 24294 1 ; ISSN 0817-8542
April 2003

Abstract

This paper presents up to date figures on the costs of a range of offences and crime as a whole in Australia. The costs assessed include medical costs, lost output, and intangible costs, which set a monetary value on pain, suffering and lost quality of life. Cost estimates are presented for homicide, assault, sexual assault, robbery, burglary, theft of vehicles, theft from vehicles, shop theft, other theft, criminal damage or vandalism, arson, fraud, drug offences, overall crime costs, and other costs, including criminal justice system costs, costs of victim assistance, security costs, household precaution costs, and insurance costs. Overall crime costs come to $19 billion, with additional costs (such as policing, prisons and security) adding nearly another $13 billion, giving a total estimated bill of nearly $32 billion per year. Fraud is the most costly crime, followed by violent crime (homicide, assault and sexual assault) and burglary.

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