How much did Calgary spend on domestic violence response in 2019?

In 2019, Calgary spent just under $58 million responding to domestic violence.

What is the proposed investment for domestic violence prevention in Calgary?

The report suggests an annual investment of about $1.2 million for prevention programs.

What percentage of domestic violence response costs are borne by taxpayers?

More than 90 percent of the costs associated with domestic violence response are borne by taxpayers.

Home / Crime and Justice / Calgary: Prevent Violence, Save Millions

Calgary: Prevent Violence, Save Millions

24 Feb

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Summary

Preventing domestic violence in Calgary could save millions in response costs.
A $1.2 million investment in prevention could reduce violence by 40%.
Taxpayers bore over 90% of the $58 million spent on DV response in 2019.

Spending on domestic violence prevention in Calgary presents a significant economic advantage over current response expenditures, according to recent research from the University of Calgary.

In 2019, the cost of responding to domestic violence in Calgary approached $58 million, with taxpayers shouldering more than 90% of these expenses. This includes costs associated with police response, court proceedings, and the broader justice system.

The study proposes that an annual investment of approximately $1.2 million towards programs that address the root causes of offender behavior could reduce domestic violence by as much as 40%. Such an investment is projected to yield substantial savings by decreasing the need for costly and time-consuming justice system interventions.