By Uri Yanay
The Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
The article focuses on the pecuniary expenditures that crime victims in Israel incurred following their criminal victimization. In addition to the harm, pain and suffering caused by the offence, crime victims confront significant personal financial costs and losses.
Most research on this topic defines costs by dividing the overall social and economic costs of crime among victims. This research adopted a different line. It is based on in-depth, personal interviews with crime victims, asking them about the pecuniary expenditures that they incurred following victimization. Most victims face the costs of emergency and long term medical (physical and mental health) treatment, recovery expenditures, transport and communication fees, convalescence, and significant short/long term loss of earnings and income
Interviews were conducted with (a) families whose loved one was murdered in a criminal act, (b) women who stayed in a shelter after being physically and mentally abused by their partners. Finally, (c) people who suffered (mainly) street crimes and incurred specific crime-related expenses were also interviewed.
The article lists the different typical expenses reported by victims of each group. Based on this and similar evidence, it will be possible to formulate and design a program that relates to the different costs incurred by different types of crime victims. Helping crime victims pay the different costs that they incurred is a significant way of alleviating their pain and suffering.