Domestic violence in Calgary costs $58M a year in policing, justice system and victim-related expenses: Study

The price tag for male perpetration of domestic violence is immeasurable but a new study from the School of Public Policy puts the costs for policing, justice system and victim-related expenses alone in Calgary at $58 million a year. 

The research paper, It Costs More to Do Nothing: Preventing Male Perpetration of Domestic Violence, found that failing to prevent domestic violence is far more costly than investing in early intervention. 

“We cannot afford to keep paying for the consequences of violence when prevention is both possible and more cost-effective,” said Prof. Lana Wells, lead author of the study, Brenda Strafford Chair in the Prevention of Domestic Violence in the Faculty of Social Work and Fellow of the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary. 

“Investing in prevention is not only the right thing to do, but also the fiscally responsible choice,” Wells said, adding there are evidence-based programs that prevent the escalation of violence.  

The paper, co-authored by Lana Wells, Casey Boodt, Herb Emery, and Ken Fyie, examines the economic and social costs of responding to domestic violence and renews calls for cross-sector collaboration focused on strategic prevention. 

The study is the third in a series on domestic violence perpetration, drawing on 2019 data from the Calgary Police Service. 

The authors found that directing first-time perpetrators to behavioral programs could reduce their likelihood of reoffending by about 40 per cent and lower taxpayer costs by about $93 million over a five-year period. 

The study was released during a news conference at the School that included Wells, Deputy Chief Asif Rashid of the Calgary Police Service and Kim Ruse, CEO of FearIsNotLove which offers support programs for people who are experiencing violence and perpetrating violence.  

“Domestic violence is one of the most complex public safety issues we face,” Rashid said. “Real progress comes from working with community services and researchers to prevent violence before it happens.”  

Ruse, who is also a leader of the Men& project, an initiative that provides men with digital and counseling supports, echoed the importance of cross-organizational collaboration, emphasizing effective prevention depends on systems that provide men early support.  

“Prevention means making it easier for men to reach out for support before situations escalate,” Ruse said.  

Rashid emphasized the importance of research like the policy series to inform prevention efforts and improve outcomes for families and communities.    

“Our mission is simple. We want to stop violence before it starts,” Wells said.

Read the research paper, It Costs More to Do Nothing: Preventing Male Perpetration of Domestic Violence.

Related media:

Domestic violence prevention would cost less than standard response: U of C report – CBC News, Feb. 24, 2026

Investing in domestic violence prevention in Calgary would save millions of taxpayer dollars: UCalgary report – CityNews, Feb. 24, 2026