Costs and consequences of sexual violence

The National Alliance to End Sexual Violence has released a fact sheet titled Costs and Consequences of Sexual Violence and Cost-Effective Solutions.

The best available research tells us that crime victimization costs the United States $450 billion annually. Rape is the most costly of all crimes to its victims, with total estimated costs at $127 billion a year (excluding the cost of child sexual abuse). In 2008, researchers estimated that each rape cost approximately $151,423. Sexual abuse has a negative impact on children’s educational attainment, later job performance, and earnings. Sexual violence survivors experience reduced income in adulthood as a result of victimization in adolescence, with a lifetime income loss estimated at $241,600. Sexual abuse interferes with women’s ability to work. Fifty percent of sexual violence victims had to quit or were forced to leave their jobs in the year following their assaults due to the severity of their reactions. In 2008, violence and abuse constituted up to 37.5% of total health care costs, or up to $750 billion.

Click here to get this report which includes all of the references.