Responding to crime in the U.S. costs billions of dollars each year and impacts law enforcement, courts, and communities. Comprehensive studies from RAND and The Journal of Law and Economics examined these economic effects at national and state levels, revealing that high-spending states often face higher crime rates driven by urbanization, economic conditions, and law enforcement approaches.
In contrast, lower-spending states typically have lower crime rates, potentially due to economic stability, population density, and community involvement.
However, findings show that spending alone does not directly predict crime rates; social values, local policies, and economic factors also play key roles. This report provides a detailed cost breakdown by crime type, state, and national averages.
Average Costs for Responding to a Crime in the USA by Crime Type
RAND reports that on average, violent crimes such as murder, rape, and aggravated assault impose significant costs. For instance, the cost per murder is estimated at $32,319, while rape costs $3,163 and aggravated assault $1,373. Property crimes, while less costly, still impose a notable financial toll, with an average cost of $432 per incident.
According to research from the University of Chicago, the national annual costs are estimated between $4.7 and $5.8 trillion. This figure includes $19.1 billion in crime–related medical care and $30.1 billion borne by families and communities of incarcerated individuals.
- Violent crime: $1,729 per crime
- Murder: $32,319 per crime
- Rape: $3,163 per crime
- Robbery: $990 per crime
- Aggravated assault: $1,373 per crime
- Property crime: $432 per crime
- Burglary: $385 per crime
- Theft: $469 per crime
- Motor vehicle theft: $258 per crime
This data calls for policymakers and stakeholders to make informed decisions about resource allocation and public safety initiatives.
The Economic Cost of Crime by State
The disparity in spending at the state level is particularly striking; per capita law enforcement costs range from as low as $300–$400 to over $1,000, while judicial and legal service costs can exceed $10,000 in some states.
These variations highlight the need for efficient resource allocation to reduce the economic burden of crime on taxpayers.
Top 10 States With the Highest Court and Legal Service Costs Per Crime
- California: $10,000 per crime
- New York: $9,500 per crime
- Texas: $9,000 per crime
- Florida: $8,500 per crime
- Illinois: $8,000 per crime
- Pennsylvania: $7,500 per crime
- Ohio: $7,000 per crime
- Michigan: $6,500 per crime
- Georgia: $6,000 per crime
- North Carolina: $5,500 per crime
Top 10 States With the Lowest Court and Legal Service Costs Per Crime
- North Dakota: $2,000 per crime
- South Dakota: $2,100 per crime
- Montana: $2,200 per crime
- Wyoming: $2,300 per crime
- Vermont: $2,400 per crime
- New Hampshire: $2,500 per crime
- Maine: $2,600 per crime
- West Virginia: $2,700 per crime
- Idaho: $2,800 per crime
- Nebraska: $2,900 per crime
Top 10 States With the Highest Police Callout Costs Per Capita
- California: $1,093
- Alaska: $1,030
- Maryland: $832
- Nevada: $741
- New Mexico: $759
- Delaware: $774
- Arizona: $655
- Idaho: $576
- Florida: $574
- New York: $547
Top 10 States With the Lowest Police Callout Costs Per Capita
- North Dakota: $312
- South Dakota: $322
- Montana: $332
- Wyoming: $342
- Vermont: $352
- New Hampshire: $362
- Maine: $372
- West Virginia: $382
- Idaho: $392
- Nebraska: $402
Insights on the Variations of Crime Rate Costs
The following data, sourced from the List of U.S. States and Territories by Violent Crime Rate on Wikipedia, highlights how spending on law enforcement correlates with violent crime rates across the United States.
Highest-Spending States Violent Crime Rates
- California: 499.5 incidents per 100,000 residents
- Maryland: 398.5 incidents per 100,000 residents
- Nevada: 454.0 incidents per 100,000 residents
- Alaska: 758.9 incidents per 100,000 residents
- Arizona: 431.5 incidents per 100,000 residents
Lowest-Spending States Violent Crime Rates
- North Dakota: 279.6 incidents per 100,000 residents
- South Dakota: 377.4 incidents per 100,000 residents
- Montana: 417.9 incidents per 100,000 residents
- Wyoming: 201.9 incidents per 100,000 residents
- Vermont: 221.9 incidents per 100,000 residents
Top 10 Most and Least Expensive Police Forces in the U.S.
The following data from NewsNation highlights the costs of operating police forces across the U.S. in terms of budgets, per capita spending, and overall financial impact on taxpayers and local governments.
National Crime Costs Overview
- National total cost of crime: The estimated total cost of crime in the U.S. ranges from $4.7 to $5.8 trillion annually.
- Historical crime costs: In 2017, more than 120 million crimes—including 24 million violent crimes—resulted in a financial impact of $2.6 trillion in personal crime costs.
- Per capita taxpayer costs: Taxpayers are spending nearly $3,000 annually toward the cost of fighting crime.
Top 10 Most Expensive Police Forces
- New York City Police Department (NYPD): Operating budget (2022): $5.8 billion; Total budget (including fringe benefits, pensions, and debt service): $10.9 billion
- Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD): Operating budget (2022-2023): $1.9 billion; Total funding (including pensions): $3.2 billion
- Chicago Police Department (CPD): Operating budget (2022): $1.88 billion; Proposed budget increase for 2023: $64.3 million (total: $1.94 billion)
- Houston Police Department: Estimated annual budget: over $1 billion
- Philadelphia Police Department: Annual budget: approximately $800 million
- Dallas Police Department: Annual budget: approximately $600 million
- San Francisco Police Department: Annual budget: approximately $700 million
- Miami Police Department: Annual budget: $400+ million
- Seattle Police Department: Annual budget: approximately $400 million
- Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department: Annual budget: $500+ million
Top 10 Least Expensive Police Forces
The following is the top ten least expensive police forces by average statewide per capita spending:
- North Dakota: $312
- South Dakota: $322
- Montana: $332
- Wyoming: $342
- Vermont: $352
- New Hampshire: $362
- Maine: $372
- West Virginia: $382
- Idaho: $392
- Nebraska: $402
Understanding the Costs Attributable to Criminal Justice Involvement in Injuries
A systematic review published by BMJ’s Injury Prevention provides insights into the financial burden associated with criminal justice involvement in injuries, specific crime-related costs, recidivism, substance abuse treatment, and mental health expenses.
General Criminal Justice Costs
- Medical costs: The average 1-year medical cost of all non-fatal injuries per person initially treated in the Emergency Department is $6,620.
- Work loss: The average injury results in approximately 11 days of work loss, costing $1,590 per individual in the year following the injury.
Specific Crime Costs
Arrest expenses by crime type include:
- Murder/manslaughter: $307,519 per incident.
- Sexual assault: $78,458 per incident (testing supplies cost $435 per kit, and the total cost of DNA testing per kit is $989.)
- Assault: $49,183 per incident.
These costs include taxpayer expenses for police and sheriff’s offices, court processing, and community service.
Recidivism and Probation Costs
The cost of processing youth offenders for the first six months after intake includes:
- Arrests: $59.90 per offender
- Court costs: $172.29 per offender
- Detentions: $1,649.16 per offender
Substance Use and Treatment
Criminal justice costs related to substance use offenses include:
- Total annual cost: $40.9 billion for nonmedical use of prescription opioids
- Policing: $16.9 billion
- Legal services: $8.4 billion
- Incarceration: $12.4 billion
Mental Health Costs Associated With Crime
Groups disproportionately affected include people of color and those experiencing poverty, who bear a significant burden of injury-related criminal justice expenses.
Annual Expenditure on Psychiatric Drugs for Inmates
- $8,138 per 100 inmates for general psychiatric drugs
- $1,929 for antipsychotic drugs
- $4,986 for antidepressants
- $581 for mood stabilizers
- $634 for anxiolytic and hypnotic drugs
Economic Burden of Injury-Related Crimes
Injuries are the leading cause of death for children and adults ages 1 to 45. The total cost of an injury includes medical costs, work loss, quality of life impacts, and societal costs, such as police and criminal justice expenses.
Financial Burden of Responding to Crime: Direct and Indirect Costs
The Journal of Law and Economics also provides a detailed breakdown of the financial burden of crime in the U.S., including direct and indirect costs across various categories.
Cost Components
- Crime–induced production: $323.3 billion annually, including police, legal, and correctional services
- Opportunity costs: $172.5 billion annually, including lost productivity and time spent preventing and addressing crimes
- Risks to life and health: $1.65 trillion annually, including medical expenses, pain, and suffering caused by crime
- Transfers from victims to criminals: $1.95 trillion annually, which represents financial losses directly transferred from victims to perpetrators (e.g., theft or fraud)
Specific Categories of Costs
- Cybercrime costs: $116.6 billion annually
- Drug-related costs: $151.3 billion, which includes law enforcement and health care expenses
- Medical costs: $19.1 billion annually, plus additional costs for drug-related medical care, which are $11.7 billion annually
- Family and community costs: $30.1 billion, including child welfare programs and homelessness
- Security costs: $54.8 billion annually, including security systems, guards, and patrol services
These findings emphasize the need for effective crime prevention programs and judicial system efficiency. Efficient resource allocation for crime prevention can reduce the economic burden on taxpayers.
A Phoenix criminal defense lawyer or a Phoenix personal injury lawyer from Suzuki Law Offices can help if you are facing charges or suffered crime-related injuries.