NCJ Number
158326
Journal
Social Policy Journal of New Zealand Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1995) Pages: 98-110
Date Published
1995
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Family violence is a serious problem in New Zealand that affects people regardless of their age, culture, and income, and a framework is described for estimating the economic cost of family violence.
Abstract
The study developed a three-stage model to represent the cycle of family violence, and data were collected on costs of providing services to family violence survivors. A spreadsheet approach was used to increase the usefulness and portability of results to interested parties and future researchers. Base scenario costs were mainly based on characteristics of families who acknowledged family violence by calling the police. New Zealand police statistics recorded 37,144 domestic violence incidents in 1993. To account for unreported family violence, an estimate of 264,547 incidents was calculated based on 301,691 prevalence at 1-in-7 less 37,144 reported. Costs were determined for medical services, loss of income, additional accommodations when family members separated, legal costs, and death and injury costs. It was also determined that the New Zealand Government incurred economic costs through direct expenditures for health care and welfare payments and indirect expenditures for community support agencies and law enforcement. The annual cost of family violence in New Zealand was estimated at a minimum of $1.2 billion, with an average total cost per survivor of $4,092. 3 references and 3 tables