An Estimation of the Economic Impact of Violent Victimization in Canada, 2009

Homicide

Introduction

Three crimes (as listed in police sources) are included in this section: 1st degree murder, 2nd degree murder, and manslaughter.

Homicide is defined generally in the Criminal Code (s. 222) as:

There are many specific scenarios that constitute homicide described in the Criminal Code.

Homicide, being the most severe offence, is relatively rare compared to other crimes. There were 83 police-reported incidents against females in 2009, 370 incidents against males, and 453 incidents total.

For details on the offences included in this section and for the matching of offences across data sources, see Crime Categories and Homicide.

See An Estimation of the Economic Impact of Violent Victimization in Canada, 2009: Technical Appendices (Hoddenbagh et al. 2013) for detailed technical tables with explanations of the data sources and methodology used in each cost item calculation.

Results

Table H.1 presents a comprehensive summary of the costs of victimization of adult victim, non-spousal homicide in 2009.

Table H.1A: Homicide – summary of costs - Justice System Costs

Justice system costs
Cost category or item Female victims Male victims Total
Police costs $27,379,189 $114,963,465 $142,342,654
Court costs $84,105 $343,275 $427,380
Prosecution costs $57,016 $232,712 $289,728
Legal aid costs $40,422 $164,981 $205,403
Corrections costs $5,632,313 $22,671,032 $28,303,346
Federal custody costs $5,585,085 $22,474,419 $28,059,503
Provincial custody costs $43,511 $181,712 $225,223
Conditional sentence costs $2,302 $9,411 $11,712
Probation costs $1,415 $5,491 $6,907
FinesTable note * $194 $822 $1,016
Total Criminal justice system costs $33,193,046 $138,375,464 $171,568,510
Table H.1B: Homicide – summary of costs - Victims Costs
Cost category or item Female victims Male victims Total
Medical costs
Medical costs $494,445 $3,312,184 $3,806,629
Total Medical costs $494,445 $3,312,184 $3,806,629
Intangible costs
Loss of life costs $628,253,405 $2,830,835,929 $3,459,089,333
Total Intangible costs $628,253,405 $2,830,835,929 $3,459,089,333
Total Victim costs $628,747,850 $2,834,148,113 $3,462,895,962
Table H.1C: Homicide – summary of costs - Third-party Costs
Cost category or item Female victims Male victims Total
Social services operating costs
Victim services costs $882,081 $2,480,852 $3,362,932
Total Social services operating costs $882,081 $2,480,852 $3,362,932
Intangible costs
Loss of affection and enjoyment to family $12,558,750 $56,588,250 $69,147,000
Total Intangible costs $12,558,750 $56,588,250 $69,147,000
Other costs
Funeral service costs $395,335 $1,781,333 $2,176,668
Family medical service costs $6,235 $28,243 $34,479
Family counselling costs $64,022 $288,474 $352,496
Total Other costs $465,592 $2,098,050 $2,563,643
Total Third-party costs $13,906,423 $61,167,152 $75,073,575
Table H.1D: Homicide – summary of costs
Cost category or item Female victims Male victims Total
Justice system costs $33,193,046 $138,375,464 $171,568,510
Total Victim costs $628,747,850 $2,834,148,113 $3,462,895,962
Total Third-party costs $13,906,423 $61,167,152 $75,073,575
Total costs $675,847,318 $3,033,690,729 $3,709,538,047

H.J. Justice System Costs

H.J.1 Criminal Justice System Costs

It is necessary to calculate the police, court, prosecution, and legal aid resources spent per incident for each crime type as doing so allows for distinction of non-spousal, adult victim incidents, whereas only calculating the total resources spent on each crime would not exclude incidents involving spousal relationships and youth victims.

H.J.1.1 Police Costs

For information on data sources and a description of the methodology used in this section, see A.J.1.1 Police Costs.

Table H.2 shows all of the pertinent police cost information, by gender.

Table H.2: Homicide – severity weights and police costs
Offence Severity weight Table note A Police cost per incident Table note B Number of incidents against Table note C Police costs for incidents against
Females Males Females Males
Murder – 1st degree 7,042 $342,224 53 158 $18,136,289 $54,073,009
Murder – 2nd degree 7,042 $342,224 26 166 $8,915,025 $56,792,013
Manslaughter 1,822 $88,526 4 46 $327,875 $4,098,443
Total     83 370 $27,379,189 $114,963,465

The police costs for non-spousal, adult victim incidents of homicide that occurred in 2009 are estimated to be $142,342,654.

Homicide – justice system – criminal justice system – police
Female victims $27,379,189
Male victims $114,963,465
Total $142,342,654
H.J.1.2 Court Costs

For information on data sources and a description of the methodology used in this section, see A.J.1.2 Court Costs.

The court costs for cases that took place due to incidents of non-spousal, adult victim homicide that occurred in 2009 are estimated to be $427,380.

Homicide – justice system – criminal justice system – court
Female victims $84,105
Male victims $343,275
Total $427,380
H.J.1.3 Prosecution Costs

For information on data sources and a description of the methodology used in this section, see A.J.1.3 Prosecution Costs.

The prosecution costs for cases that took place due to incidents of non-spousal, adult victim homicide that occurred in 2009 are estimated to be $289,728.

Homicide – justice system – criminal justice system – prosecution
Female victims $57,016
Male victims $232,712
Total $289,728
H.J.1.4 Legal Aid Costs

For information on data sources and a description of the methodology used in this section, see A.J.1.4 Legal Aid Costs.

The legal aid costs for cases that took place due to incidents of non-spousal, adult victim homicide that occurred in 2009 are estimated to be $205,403.

Homicide – justice system – criminal justice system – legal aid
Female victims $40,422
Male victims $164,981
Total $205,403
H.J.1.5 Corrections Costs

For information on data sources and a description of the methodology used for Table H.3 and Table H.4, see A.J.1.5 Corrections Costs.

Table H.3 shows the proportion that each sentence is given for homicide crimes (calculated from the ACCS and the YCS), for all crimes and victims (i.e., no conditions).

Table H.4 shows the number of offenders estimated to have been given each sentence for committing homicide crimes in 2009, for non-spousal, adult victim incidents. These figures are used as the base counts in the estimations of the costs of each sentence type.

Table H3: Homicide sentence proportions (all crimes and victims), by gender of offender
Offence Custody Conditional sentence Probation Fine Other
M F M F M F M F M F
Adult offenders - Homicide 79.5% 85.5% 1.7% 1.8% 2.4% 7.3% 2.8% 0.0% 13.7% 5.5%
Youth offenders - Homicide 32.2% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 6.2% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 61.6% 100.0%
Table H4A: Homicide sentence numbers (non-spousal crimes and adult victims) - Adult Offenders
Offence Custody Conditional sentence Probation Fine Other
Female victims 9 0 0 0 1
Male Victims 37 1 1 1 6
Total Victims 46 1 2 2 8
Table H4B: Homicide sentence numbers (non-spousal crimes and adult victims) - Youth Offenders
Offence Custody Conditional sentence Probation Fine Other
Female victims 0 0 0 0 1
Male Victims 1 0 0 0 3
Total Victims 2 0 0 0 4
H.J.1.5.1 Federal custody costs

For information on data sources and a description of the methodology used in this section, see A.J.1.5.1 Federal custody costs.

The estimated average length of federal custody sentences for homicide was 3,336 days in 2009. This might be a conservative estimate as the “Unknown” category for length of custody which includes indeterminate custody sentences is not used in the estimation. The numbers of offenders sentenced to federal custody for homicide are as follows: 7 males for violence against females, 1 female for violence against females, 30 males for violence against males, and 2 females for violence against males.

The federal custody costs due to incidents of non-spousal, adult victim homicide that occurred in 2009 are estimated to be $28,059,503.

Homicide – justice system – criminal justice system – corrections – federal custody
Female victims $5,585,085
Male victims $22,474,419
Total $28,059,503
H.J.1.5.2 Provincial custody costs

For information on data sources and a description of the methodology used in this section, see A.J.1.5.2 Provincial custody costs. There were no female offenders sentenced to provincial custody for homicide. For homicide, the average length of provincial custody sentences was 330 days for male offenders. The numbers of offenders sentenced to provincial custody for homicide are as follows: 1 male for violence against females, and 5 males for violence against males.

The provincial custody costs due to incidents of non-spousal, adult victim homicide that occurred in 2009 are estimated to be $225,223.

Homicide – justice system – criminal justice system – corrections – provincial custody
Female victims $43,511
Male victims $181,712
Total $225,223
H.J.1.5.3 Conditional sentence costs

For information on data sources and a description of the methodology used in this section, see A.J.1.5.3 Conditional sentence costs. The average conditional sentence length for “manslaughter” is 502 days, according to Roberts and LaPrairie (2000).

Given the number of offenders sentenced to a conditional sentence from Table H.4 (0 for violence against female victims and 1 for violence against males), the conditional sentence costs due to incidents of non-spousal, adult victim homicide that occurred in 2009 are estimated to be $11,712.

Homicide – justice system – criminal justice system – corrections – conditional sentence
Female victims $2,302
Male victims $9,411
Total $11,712
H.J.1.5.4 Probation costs

For information on data sources and a description of the methodology used in this section, see A.J.1.5.4 Probation costs.

The average probation sentence length for males was 535 days and for females was 489 days. The number of offenders sentenced to probation is given in Table H.4 (0 males for violence against females, 0 females for violence against females, 1 male for violence against males, 0 females for violence against males). The probation costs due to incidents of non-spousal, adult victim homicide that occurred in 2009 are estimated to be $6,907.

Homicide – justice system – criminal justice system – corrections – probation
Female victims $1,415
Male victims $5,491
Total $6,907
H.J.1.5.5 Fines

For information on data sources and a description of the methodology used in this section, see A.J.1.5.5 Fines.

Costs to the offender are not included in this report (see Sources of Economic Impacts for reasons), and fines are calculated here for illustrative purposes only. These results are not included in any summations of total costs. The average fine amount for homicide is $665.

This average fine amount is then multiplied by the number of offenders receiving fines from Table H.4 (0 for violence against females, 1 for violence against males). The fine costs to offenders due to incidents of non-spousal, adult victim homicide that occurred in 2009 are estimated to be $1,016.

Homicide – justice system – criminal justice system – corrections – fines
Female victims $194
Male victims $822
Total $1,016

H.V. Victim Costs

H.V.1 Medical Costs

H.V.1.1 Medical Costs

The method for estimating medical costs in cases of homicide is different from the method used for the other crimes because of the different nature of homicide.

Relevant information was obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States – Costs of Violent Deaths in the United States, 2005. This study was able to differentiate the different external causes of death, including homicide, suicide and unintentional etc. Costs were computed separately for five different places of death identified in the data collected, such as on-scene, dead on arrival at a hospital, in emergency department, in a hospital after inpatient admission, and in a nursing home. Covering costs for coroner/medical examiner, medical transport, emergency department, inpatient hospitalization, and nursing home, the average medical cost was estimated at$4,520USD for female victims and $6,720USD for male victims. After adjusting for exchange rate and inflation, the average medical cost of homicide victims is $5,817CAD for female victims and $8,648CAD for male victims in 2009.

There were 85 female victims of non-spousal adult homicide in 2009 and 383 male victims (Note that these figures are victim counts, slightly larger than the homicide incident counts presented in the previous section). Using the cost information above, the total medical costs due to non-spousal, adult homicide that occurred in 2009 are estimated to be $3,806,629.

Homicide – victim – medical – health care
Female victims $494,445
Male victims $3,312,184
Total $3,806,629

H.V.2 Intangible Costs

H.V.2.1 Loss of Life Costs

For a brief discussion on the issues raised when valuing intangibles and the methods used to do so, see Valuation of Intangibles. There are several methods for estimating the monetary value of the loss of life; in this report the value of a statistical life (VSL) willingness-to-pay method is used.

The VSL as determined by Viscusi (2008) is estimated to be $7,391,217 for 2009 when adjusted for inflation and the exchange rate. With 85 female homicide victims and 383 male homicide victims in 2009, the loss of life costs due to incidents of non-spousal, adult victim homicide that occurred in 2009 are estimated to be $3,459,089,333. In terms of monetary value, this figure can be interpreted as covering not only future income, but also quality of life, enjoyment and many other items that people value.

Homicide – victim – intangible – loss of life
Female victims $628,253,405
Male victims $2,830,835,929
Total $3,459,089,333

H.T. Third-Party Costs

H.T.1 Social Services Operating Costs

H.T.1.1 Victim Services

Victim services are available for family and friends of homicide victims. In 2009/2010, 410,000 people used victim services in Canada (Munch 2012); of these, approximately 2.4% used the service due to the homicide of someone known to them, which suggests that 9,836 clients used victim services due to homicide. Accounting for only those homicides that did not involve spousal offender and victim relationships and for adult victims only, the number of relevant clients estimated to have used victim services is 7,378. Based on information from Sauvé (2009), victim services operating cost per victim assisted was about $456 in 2009 Footnote 34.

With this information taken together, the victim services costs due to incidents of non-spousal, adult victim homicide that occurred in 2009 are estimated to be $3,362,932.

Homicide – third-party – social services – victim services
Female victims $882,081
Male victims $2,480,852
Total $3,362,932

H.T.2 Intangible Costs

H.T.2.1 Loss of Affection and Enjoyment to Family

Family members and friends experience a heavy emotional cost when a loved one dies, particularly when the death is due to a criminal act. The value representing the loss of affection and enjoyment to family, which is used only for costing purposes and is not meant to imply that the loss of affection is “worth” this amount, is based on the Alberta Fatal Accidents Act. Under the Act, family members are entitled to court awards for damages when other family members die. Averaging the specified awards across all family members listed, the average value legislated to be awarded to family members was $65,000. The average number of surviving members of a household in the UK is estimated to be 2.27, Footnote 35 calculated from Casey (2011), and will be used here in the absence of Canadian data.

Given 85 female homicide victims and 383 male homicide victims, the loss of affection and enjoyment to family due to incidents of non-spousal, adult victim homicide that occurred in 2009 is estimated to be $69,147,000.

Homicide – third-party – intangible costs – loss of affection and enjoyment to family
Female victims $12,558,750
Male victims $56,588,250
Total $69,147,000

H.T.3 Other Costs

Family members and others close to homicide victims may experience many other effects not listed in this report due to the homicide incident, including lost productivity and loss of future income. These and other potential costs could not be estimated due to lack of data.

H.T.3.1 Funeral service costs

Families (and other third parties when relevant) are responsible for any costs related to the burial of the deceased homicide victim. From the Ontario Board of Funeral Services, the average funeral and burial expenses in 2009 were estimated to be $4,651 Footnote 36. With 85 female homicide victims and 383 male victims, the funeral service costs due to incidents of non-spousal, adult victim homicide that occurred in 2009 are estimated to be $2,176,668.

Homicide – third-party – other costs – funeral expenses
Female victims $395,335
Male victims $1,781,333
Total $2,176,668
H.T.3.2 Family medical service costs

Family members of homicide victims can be severely affected emotionally, physically, and financially by the violent and tragic event of the homicide. SAMM National (2011) conducts a survey of British families bereaved by homicide to understand more about the difficulties and pains that family members go through when a loved one is violently killed. The trauma following the homicide of a family member can lead to many physical symptoms of grief and stress, such as sleep disturbance (reported by 86% of respondents) and depression (reported by 76% or respondents). Family members can attempt to address these issues by visiting a doctor (GP), which 59% of respondents said they had. It is assumed that each family member who did visit a doctor made 1 visit, as it is known that they visited at least once, but to ensure a conservative estimate no further visits are assumed.

The cost of one physician visit in 2009, from Canadian Institute for Health Information (2007), was $55 after inflation adjustment. Given 85 homicides of females and 383 homicides of males, and 2.27 estimated surviving family members (calculated from Casey 2011), the family medical service costs due to incidents of non-spousal, adult victim homicide that occurred in 2009 are estimated to be $34,479.

Homicide – third-party – other costs – family medical service
Female victims $6,235
Male victims $28,243
Total $34,479
H.T.3.3 Family counselling costs

Family members of homicide victims are greatly affected, and mental health in particular can deteriorate due to the trauma. The survey of British families bereaved by homicide conducted in SAMM National (2011) shows that 78% of family members Footnote 37 of homicide victims seek counselling to deal with the emotional effects of losing a loved one to violent homicide (49% went to bereavement counselling and 29% went to trauma counselling). It is assumed that each family member who received counselling attended 5 sessions on average, at the cost of $85 per session.

There were 85 homicides of females and 383 homicides of males in 2009. Assuming there were 2.27 surviving family members of each homicide victim (based on calculations from Casey 2011), the family counselling costs due to incidents of non-spousal, adult victim homicide that occurred in 2009 are estimated to be $352,496.

Homicide – third-party – other costs – family counselling
Female victims $64,022
Male victims $288,474
Total $352,496