An Estimation of the Economic Impact of Spousal Violence in Canada, 2009

Research and Statistics DivisionDepartment of Justice Canada

October 2013

The Costs of Violent VictimizationWhy now?

Large gap in Canadian research / Canadian research out of date

Interest in costing research from a wide range of stakeholders (international, federal/provincial/territorial, NGOs)

The importance of using a common unit of measurement to include a wide diversity of stakeholders in the conversation on spousal violence

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Current Work on Costing Firearm-related crimes in Canada; victim costs disaggregated by gender

Spousal violence (ex and current spousal abuse); disaggregated by gender

Violent victimization – homicide, sexual assault, assault, robbery, criminal harassment; disaggregated by gender

Administration of Justice Offences (criminal justice system)

Youth Criminal Justice System

Polices costs per incident by offence type (in progress)

Victimization of children and youth (in progress)

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External Review Reviewers – expertise in costing and/or gender expertise

Dr. Rick Brown, Australian Institute of Criminology Professor Michael Burns, Memorial University Dr. Brent Davis, Australian Institute of Criminology Professor Matthew Gray, Australian National University Professor Holly Johnson, University of Ottawa Professor Maryse Rinfret-Raynor, University of Quebec at Montreal Dr. Adam Tomison, Australian Institute of Criminology Professor Sylvia Walby, University of Lancaster

Methodology reviewed – written comments and responses, conference calls

Draft report reviewed – written comments and responses, conference calls

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Impact Categories

Mental Health Care Other Personal Costs

Loss of Affection/Enjoyment to Family Members

Social Services Other Government Expenditures

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Impact borne by Justice System Criminal Justice System Civil Justice System

Impact borne by Primary Victims Health Care Productivity Losses Intangible Costs

Impact borne by Other Individuals and Systems Funeral Services Other People Harmed/Threatened Loss to Employers Negative Impact on Child Witnesses

Data Sources 2009 General Social Survey, Cycle 23 Uniform Crime Reporting Survey 2 Examples of other major data sources:

Police Administration Survey Adult Criminal Court Survey Court Personnel and Expenditure Survey (CPES) Adult Correctional Services Survey (ACS) and the Integrated

Correctional Services Survey (ICS) National Ambulatory Care Reporting System Discharge Abstract Database National Physician Database Government finance reports Existing literature, studies and government reports

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Key Challenges Lack of data/information

Lack of access to data

Limitations of Surveys, including General Social Survey

Limitations of small, non-representative studies

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Number of Incidents and Victims – The Attrition Pyramid

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V.Convictions

11,373 – no

victim informationIV.

Court cases 21,599 – no victim information

III.Incidents cleared by charge

(UCR2, 2009): 34,859with 33,809 victims

II.Incidents reported to police (UCR2, 2009): 46,918

I.Self-reported incidents (GSS, 2009): 942,000

with 335,697 victims – by gender

Number of Victims by Gender

Police-Reported Data, UCR2 2009 81.2% female victims (38,082) 18.8% male victims (8,836)

Self-Reported Data, GSS 2009

Ex-spousal violence 68,893 female victims 34,804 male victims

Current spousal violence 111,000 female victims 121,000 male victims

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Ex Current Overall -

40,000

80,000

120,000

160,000

200,000

33.6%

52.2%

46.4%

66.4%

47.8%

53.6%

malefemale

Number of Victims of Spousal Violence in Canada 2009, by gender

Impact borne by Criminal Justice System

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Total criminal justice system costs were $320 million, where policing services accounted for the majority of total expenditures (46%).

Spousal violence involving female victims accounted for almost 85% of the criminal justice system expenditures.

Police45.5%

Court9.5%

Pro-secu-tion7.9%

Legal Aid

5.5%

Corrections31.7%

Impact borne by Civil Justice System The total civil justice system costs were $225 million, where 81% were

attributed to spousal violence against females. Civil protection orders: $2,272,200

About 6,378 applications for restraining/protection orders where 4,983 were granted.

Court/Legal aid costs for divorce and separation: $40,941,889 It is estimated that $12,761,670 and $10,814,975 were pertaining to legal aid for

divorce and other family breakdown, respectively, which were primarily caused by spousal violence.

Total civil court costs for the 3,042 contested divorce cases were $3,495,798. Family service expenditures: $13,869,446.

Child protection systems: $181,903,737 Costs of providing foster care and formal kinship: $46,121,400. Costs associated with regular family visits and assessments for children

with no placement or children with an informal agreement with a relative: $116,032,512.

Investigation costs for cases of exposure to spousal violence: $19,749,825,11

Impact borne by Primary Victims Total Tangible Victim Costs: $525 million Total Intangible Victim Costs: $5,460 million

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Tangible Victim Costs by Gender and Type of Cost, $Million

Health Care Mental Health Issues Productivity Losses Other Personal Costs$0

$40

$80

$120

$160

$200

$240

$8

$147

$37

$212

$13$33

$16

$59

Violence against females Violence against males

Impact borne by Third Parties Total third-party costs: $889,881,609 About 77.7% were due to spousal violence against females

Negative impacts on children exposed to spousal violence accounted for 26.4% ($235M) of third-party costs

• Negative impacts considered include: hyperactivity, emotional disorders, physical aggression, and delinquent acts against property

• Costs include: medical costs, missed school days, lost future income, and damaged and stolen property

The remaining 73.6% ($655M) of the costs were incurred by family members, other individuals, employers, and governments

• Social services: $410,595,799 • Other government expenditures: $116,260,000• Losses to employers: $68,541,415• Loss of affection to family members: $37,170,000 • Other individuals harmed during the incidents: $11,246,120 • Funeral expenses: $1,449,240

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Summary 1: Who is bearing the IMPACTS?

Total estimated costs of spousal violence in Canada: Justice System: $545 million Primary Victims: $5,985 million Third-Party: $890 million

About 74.1% of the total costs attributable to intangible costs for primary victims and family members

About 65.2% of costs attributable to spousal violence against females

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Impact borne by third-party

$890 (12.0%) Impact

borne by Justice System

$545 (7.3)%

Impact borne by victims $5,985 (80.7%)

Third-partyJustice SystemVictims

Summary 2: Who is paying the COSTS? Total tangible costs (excluding negative impact on children exposed to

spousal violence) -- actual financial transactions were made For the tangible costs, 79.2% attributable to spousal violence against

females

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Intangible Costs$5,497 M (74.1%)

Lost Future Income to Children

$228 M (3.1%)

State63.8%Individual

29.4%

Private sector6.9%

Tangible Costs by Who Pays, 2009 ($ million)

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Questions?To access the full report of An Estimation of the Economic Impact of Spousal Violence in Canada, 2009, please visit:http://canada.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/cj-jp/fv-vf/rr12_7/rr12_7.pdf

The TeamTing Zhang, PhD Josh Hoddenbagh, MASusan McDonald, LLB, PhD Katie Scrim, BA

Ting Zhang, PhDMethodologist Research and Statistics DivisionDepartment of Justice Canada284 Wellington, 6th floorOttawa, ON K1A 0H8Tel: (613) 957-2811Email: tzhang@justice.gc.ca