NCJ Number
100070
Date Published
1985
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Data from the 1981 Canadian Urban Victimization Survey (CUVS) were used to determine financial, physical, and emotional costs of sexual assault, robbery, assault, break and enter, motor vehicle theft, household and personal property theft, and vandalism.
Abstract
Data cover victimizations for January 1 to December 31, 1981. Conducted in seven major urban centers (Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax-Dartmouth, and St. John's), the CUVS excluded all persons under 16 years old. After reviewing the incident patterns of various offenses, including victim socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, the study presents data on victimization financial costs, including the amount of unrecovered property and cash, property damage, medical expenses, lost wages, and insurance payments to victims. Data on the physical cost of crime encompass the number of victims physically attacked; numbers who were injured, received treatment for injuries, and were hospitalized; and the length of hospital stays. The discussion of the emotional cost of crime considers fear and other crisis emotional reactions experienced as a result of victimization. Consideration of secondary victimization costs focuses on victim material and emotional costs incurred from involvement in the criminal processing of their cases. 8 data tables and CUVS methodology, definitions, and limitations.