A Survey on Costs of Crime

One of the most complex issues in criminal policy is estimate of costs of crime. Because, committing of crime imposes high costs on society and citizens which may be victim of a crime. Accurate and scientific study of crime costs had been, simultaneously, started with economic analysis of law, and especially, of crime control. In the viewpoint of this school of thought, practical measures for increasing the social welfare, is possible, only by taking into consideration, the costs of criminal process.In general, costs of crime are divided by economists to three sets: costs of victims, costs of criminal justice system and costs of offenders. Cost of victims, in turn, is divided to tangible costs (productivity losses, medical costs) and intangible costs (pain, suffering, and reduced quality of life). But, criminal justice system costs depend on adoption of policies. Offenders, by perpetration of a crime, sustain costs for escaping from criminal justice and detection of crime.For economists, accurate estimation of crime costs may result in: firstly, the revealing of paramount importance of crime phenomenon in ascertaining other preferences; secondly, offering efficient and best policy choice in the face of scarcity of resources; and finally, making possible use of cost-benefit analysis for policymakers.Unfortunately, the research in Iran has not paid attention to estimation of crime costs. The main cause of the neglect is rooted in lack of proper identification of crime cost. This article explains the importance of crime cost estimation and prepares the ground of the implementation of this process in Iranian Law.