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USA - State of Minnesota Sexual Violence Cost $8 Billion
August 14, 2007
More than 61,000 Minnesota residents were sexually
assaulted in 2005, costing the state almost $8 billion, or $1, 540 per
resident. A new report from the Minnesota Department of Health finds that there
were more than 77,000 incidences of sexual assault in 2005, and many victims
were assaulted more than once. State officials hope the report will serve as a
benchmark against which to measure future progress in reducing this crime, and
as a model for other states.
Cost of Sexual Violence in Minnesota finds that the
largest cost – 88 percent of the $8 billion – was due to the pain, suffering,
and quality of life losses of victims and their families, and related
breakdowns in their lives and relationships. Medical care, mental health care,
victim work loss, sexually transmitted diseases, unplanned pregnancy, suicidal
acts, substance abuse and victim services cost $1.3 billion. Criminal justice
and perpetrator treatment cost $130.5 million, only two percent of the total.
More than half the costs, approximately $4.1 billion, resulted
from sexual assaults against those age 17 and younger. Only six percent
involved sexual assault victims over age 45. Sexual assaults against females
accounted for 76 percent of the costs.
Authors say the $8 billion estimate is only a fraction of the
true costs of sexual violence, because it excludes the costs of crimes
committed by people whose experiences of victimization contributed to their
criminal behavior, and costs of personal and community protection (alarms and
security services), family and relationship problems that arise when someone is
victimized or commits sexual violence, and costs to those who are mistakenly
suspected of committing these crimes.
“Sexual violence costs 3.3 times as much as alcohol-impaired
driving in Minnesota,” the report says, concluding that “policy recommendations
aimed at preventing sexual violence before it occurs should be vigorously
pursued, adopted and sustained.”
The Minnesota Department of Health and the Pacific Institute
for Research and Evaluation prepared the report, with funding from the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention. To view it, please visit www.pire.org/documents/mn_brochure.pdf.
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