Rapes Increased 114% In Bergen County Year-Over-Year, Report Shows

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — The number of reported rape and sex crimes in Bergen County more than doubled in recent years, according to a recently released state report.

The Department of Law & Public Safety released its most recent Uniform Crime Report data this past week, showing that the overall crime rate has continued to decrease while certain types of violent crime has increased. The report uses data from 2015, the most recent year the data is available.

There were 37 types of sex crimes — including rape —reported in the county in 2014 and 79 in 2015, a 114 percent increase, the report shows. 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.

Other county-specific statistics include:

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Patch file photo by Daniel Hubbard