Sexual assaults in Minnesota in 2005 resulted in an estimated $8 billion in costs when considering mental health care, criminal justice expenses, and the victims’ lost productivity and quality of life, says a state estimate reported by the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The Minnesota Department of Health is trying to draw public attention to a problem often shrouded by secrecy and the reluctance of victims to report assaults. By comparison, the economic impact of impaired driving was $2.1 billion. “This lets us say, ‘Wow, this is how big of a problem this is, and we do need to do something about it,’ ” said Mark Kinde, director of the department’s injury and violence prevention unit.
More than $6.4 billion was attributed to suffering and lost quality of life, an economic category based on what juries have awarded to assault victims for their suffering. There were 61,000 sexual-assault victims in the state in 2005, and 30 percent of them were younger than 18. The remaining $1.5 billion in direct costs (including $220 million for state government) covered the criminal justice process and the aftermath, which can include medical bills, sexually transmitted diseases, unplanned pregnancies, substance abuse, suicide attempts and lost productivity.
Link: http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_6400060?nclick_check=1