815,000 additional crimes would have been committed in our state, including more than 217,000 violent crimes. We would have suffered more than 4,000 additional homicide victims; more than 6,000 women would have been victims of rape.
How does one place a value on crimes not committed? What is the actual cost of a murder or rape? The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has estimated the average cost for each crime in a 1996 study, which measures cost per crime with tangible losses and quality of life. The tangible losses include productivity lost, medical care, public safety services, victim services and property and damage loss. The other figure includes intangible costs such as quality of life.41
 |
Tangible cost per crime | Overall cost per crime |
|---|---|---|
| Murder | $1,030,000 | $2,940,000 |
| Rape | $5,100 | $87,000 |
| Robbery | $2,300 | $8,000 |
| Assault | $1,550 | $9,400 |
| Burglary | $1,100 | $1,400 |
| Vehicle Theft | $3,500 | $3,700 |
For the purpose of this study, both figures will be used to establish a range for the savings as a result of the drop in crime during the ‘Three Strikes” era. By combining these figures with the number of fewer crimes committed, a savings for the state can be calculated.
|
Tangible costs | Overall Costs |
|---|---|---|
| Murder | $4,148,840,000 | $11,842,320,000 |
| Rape | $30,946,800 | $527,916,000 |
| Robbery | $285,938,000 | $994,568,000 |
| Assault | $128,355,000 | $778,414,000 |
| Burglary | $381,339,200 | $485,340,800 |
| Vehicle Theft | $877,208,500 | $927,334,700 |
|
------------ | ------------ |
| Total | $5,852,628,300 | $15,555,893,500 |
41Victim Costs and Consequences: A New Look; National Institute of Justice; January 1996.
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