What Price Justice? A Handbook for the Analysis of Criminal Justice Costs

• NCJ Number: 106777
• Date Published: 1989
• Author(s): B L Wayson; G S Funke
• Length: 115 pages
• Grant Number(s): 83-IJ-CX-K043
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Handbook

Annotation

This manual presents a methodology for estimating the costs of processing offenders in the criminal justice system, based on information gathered by a National Institute of Justice project focusing on providing baseline information on offender processing costs.

Abstract

The analysis uses a story approach to track offenders through specific processes such as booking and the trial. It introduces and explains several basic concepts. A cost objective is any activity for which a separate measurement of cost is derived. A loaded resource unit is the dollar amount of all direct and indirect costs associated with a measure of resource use. Cost allocation is the process of distributing an aggregate dollar amount to cost objectives, agency functions, or any other categories of interest. Finally, indirect costs such as administration and training are those that cannot easily be allocated to direct operations. The analysis emphasizes that an employee's hourly rate gives little information about the costs of processes. Tables, glossary, and sample time log.