Rapes Increased By 124 Percent In Mercer County Year-Over-Year, Report Shows

Rape was up 124 percent in Mercer County in recent years, according to a recently released state report. The Department of Law and Public Safety released its most recent Uniform Crime Report data on Friday. The report uses data from 2015, the most recent year the data is available.

There were 92 rapes reported in the county in 2015, compared to 41 last year. The increase may be at least partially attributable to a change in FBI reporting criteria, which is more comprehensive, according to the state Office of Attorney General.

The revised definition:

• Includes either male or female victims or offenders.
• Includes instances in which the victim is incapable of giving consent because of temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity, (e.g., due to the influence of drugs or alcohol or because of age).
• Reflects the various forms of sexual penetration understood to be rape.

Sex crimes statewide increased by 43 percent from 950 in 2014 to 1,362 in 2015, the report shows.

• A total of 8,089 Crime Index Offenses were reported to the police of Mercer County during 2015, an increase of less than one-half of one percent compared to 2014.
• Violent crimes increased 8 percent while the nonviolent crime category decreased 1 percent.
• The crime rate for Mercer County was recorded at 21.8 victims for every 1,000 inhabitants, an increase of less than one-half of one percent compared to the previous year.
• Murder decreased 38 percent from 32 in 2014 to 20 in 2015.
• Robbery decreased 3 percent from 554 in 2014 to 540 in 2015. Burglary decreased 15 percent from 1,769 in 2014 to 1,510 in 2015.
• Aggravated assault increased 12 percent from 671 in 2014 to 749 in 2015.
• The total value of property stolen in Mercer County amounted to $12,903,666, of which 29.6 percent was recovered.
• There were 14,804 persons arrested during 2015, a decrease of 6 percent compared to 2014.
• Adult arrests decreased 6 percent to 13,714 and juvenile arrests decreased 12 percent to 1,090 as compared to 2014.
• The total clearance rate for Index offenses was 21 percent; juveniles were responsible for 16 percent of those cases.

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