September 10, 2004 (PITTSBURGH) -- The Pennsylvania State Police released the 2003 Uniform Crime Report (UCR) on Wednesday, September 8. Statewide, the number of reported forcible rapes is down, but Pittsburgh Action Against Rape advocates voice caution in analyzing the data.“Certainly, we would like to think that the lower numbers may indicate that our education programs and risk reduction strategies are effective,” said BJ Horn, PAAR executive director. “But we fear that the decrease is part of an on-going trend of victims feeling that they will not be believed by their family or authorities if they do come forward.”
In the summer of 2003, news of Kobe Bryant’s arrest for sexual assault and the ensuing backlash of contempt for the victim spread across the country. Although some advocates in the field believe this case has affected victims from reporting their assaults, PAAR staff believes there are additional reasons.
“Some victims may not report their attack due to the negative publicity of the Bryant case, but you have to remember that rape has been an epidemic for some time,” continued Horn. “Victims, be they women, men or children, have always experienced shame, anguish and embarrassment. The Bryant arrest and ruling hasn’t changed that. There is no other crime where the victims bear such a burden of guilt. Victim-blaming is common.”
The UCR is a web-based reporting system set up by the Pennsylvania State Police for local law enforcement officials to voluntarily submit statistics on the number of reported crimes in their jurisdiction. According to the Department of Justice, less than 30% of rape victims report the crime to police.
“With over 30 years of experience, we know that very few victims come forward to report their rape,” said Horn. “I think attributing any decline solely to this case is a colossal error in judgement. Rape is a crime that strips victims of dignity and safety. And with 7 out of every 10 rapes committed by persons known to the victim, trust and safety are always significant issues for them. Our culture has made coming forward an extraordinary act of courage.”
On average, Pennsylvania rape crisis centers serve over 35,000 victims and their significant others each year. Pennsylvania police report an average of 9 rapes each day. However, law enforcement officials recognize rape as one of the most under-reported crimes.
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