NO SINGLE FIGURE REPRESENTING THE TOTAL ANNUAL ECONOMIC COST OF CRIME TO THE UNITED STATES IS PRESENTED. RATHER, AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO INDICATE THE ELEMENTS OF COST AND LOSS WHICH ARE RELATED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY TO CRIME. THE STUDIES WHICH SUPPLIED THE MATERIAL FOR THIS REPORT WERE IN PROGRESS SINCE 1929. THEY INCLUDED AN EXAMINATION OF THE PUBLISHED MATERIAL, STATISTICAL AND OTHERWISE; THE ASSEMBLING OF UNPUBLISHED MATERIAL ON THE COST OF STATE POLICE AND STATE PENAL INSTITUTIONS; A NATIONWIDE FIELD STUDY OF THE COST OF ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN AMERICAN CITIES CARRIED OUT IN 300 COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE COOPERATION OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, GOVERNMENT RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS AND CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE; A STUDY OF THE COST OF ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT; THE COLLECTION OF DATA ON PRIVATE EXPENDITURES FOR PROTECTION AGAINST CRIME; AND A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE CHARACTER AND MAGNITUDE OF LOSSES TO PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS AND TO THE COMMUNITY AS A RESULT OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES. A BIBLIOGRAPHICAL APPENDIX LISTS AND DISCUSSES THE PUBLISHED MATERIAL ON THE COST OF CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE.