What is the cost of domestic violence?
We know the human costs. According to a study over this last year, a statewide survey on violence revealed that one in 16 people in California experienced domestic violence — emotional, physical, or sexual violence from a current or former partner. The survey found that an estimated half of women in California will experience domestic violence in their lifetime.
In addition to the human costs there are financial costs.
According to a report from U-C San Diego’s School of Medicine and Tulane University, domestic violence costs the state of California approximately $73.7 billion annually, due to costs associated with health care for victims, policing and the criminal legal system, and response programs, as well as the indirect cost of loss of income for those involved.
The report recommends what the UCSD researchers say is “a consistent and sustainable funding stream” in the state budget for preventing and responding to domestic violence.
This report also calls for better compliance with existing firearm legislation blocking people with domestic violence convictions from firearm use. The report says this about that: “Many Californians— especially men—regularly obtain guns without registering them.”
Clearly, the greatest cost of domestic violence would be to not do enough to prevent it now and in the future.
(Photo SD Domestic Violence Council)