Cost of sexual violence in Iowa

Objective: To determine the incidence of sexual violence, and estimate the costs associated with sexual violence in the state of Iowa in 2009.

Method: Data from the Iowa Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, Iowa Youth Risk Behavior Survey, National Crime Victimization Survey, and Iowa Child Protective Services were used to estimate the incidents of sexual violence. Using the cost data obtained from the Iowa Departments of Corrections, Human Rights, Human Services, Justice, and Public Safety, and other national studies, the costs per incident and total costs of sexual violence were estimated in 2010 dollars, by age and sexual violence category, for various elements, including costs of medical care, mental health care, lost work, property damage, lost quality of life, victim services, and investigation and adjudication.

Result: In 2009, an estimated 55,340 individuals experienced sexual violence in Iowa, including an estimated 49,510 adults and 5,930 children age 17 or under. Of these, nearly three of every four victims were females. In fiscal year 2009, the total estimate of sexual violence was $5.6 billion, equating to $1,875 per resident. This estimate included $5.3 billion in indirect costs (95% of the total sexual violence costs in Iowa) and $271 million in direct costs. In the same year, an estimated $98 million in government money was spent as a result of sexual violence in Iowa.

Conclusion: Our results on costs of sexual violence are useful for informing policy-makers of the importance of intervening and to identify where potential savings may occur.