NCJ Number
213765
Date Published
2005
Length
82 pages
Annotation
This report presents findings of a study to determine an accurate and comprehensive estimation of the costs of domestic violence to the Australian economy; it is part 2 of a two-part report.
Abstract
Total cost estimated indicated that $131.9 million was lost due to victims taking temporary time off work in 2002 through 2003 due to injury, emotional distress, or court attendance while an estimated $8.3 million was lost due to perpetrators taking time off paid work to harass victims. Specific results revealed that 21 percent of physically assaulted females took an average of 7.2 days off paid work, 18 percent of female sexual assault victims took an average of 8.1 days off paid work, and 33 percent of female stalking victims took an average of 10.1 days off paid work. Similar estimates revealed that the weekly income of female domestic violence victims was lower than females who did not experience domestic violence; police costs associated with domestic violence for 2002 were $3.5 million; private legal costs of the perpetrator were estimated at $31.7 million; government funded services spent $50.2 million related to domestic violence; and non-government funded services totaled $2.5 to $25 million. Perpetrator programs annually cost approximately $2.2 million while disability support to domestic violence victims was approximately $242 million annually. The calculation of the costs of domestic violence to the Australian economy incorporated estimates of the prevalence of domestic violence, including domestic violence aimed at male victims, same sex partners, and children who witness the violence; temporary absenteeism from paid and unpaid work; the impact of violence on women’s safety, employment, health, and receipt of governmental benefits; the impact on homelessness; administrative and other costs related to dealing with domestic violence; transfer payments in terms of income support, victim compensation, and lost taxes; and long-term productivity costs. The main volume in part 1 of the report (not included with this report) describes the prevalence of domestic violence against women based on the 1996 Women’s Safety Survey. Tables, figures, references