Tyrone N. Butts
APE Reporter
3
Rape reports hit 5-year high in '04
DURHAM -- A stranger. A co-worker. A boyfriend.
That is how some of the 89 women who reported being raped in Durham last year described their attacker.
Rape reports hit a five-year high, up 12 from the year before. That's an increase of more than 15 percent.
Police and leaders of local sexual assault programs can't say whether the numbers mean more rapes are occurring, or whether people are becoming more comfortable reporting the attacks.
"I am not sure if [the increase] is relevant," said Joy Cunningham, co-executive director of the Durham Crisis Response Center. "What is, is we as a community failed."
Cunningham and co-director Ada Gregory said the Police Department has improved its response
nto rape and sexual assault but needs a central system for tracking sex crimes.
A cen
tral unit, the women said, would help police connect patterns, track repeat offenders and identify criminals whose misdemeanor crimes, such as peeping or exposing themselves in public, could escalate to sexual assault and rape.
Police officials said they can't afford a special unit and that the current system works well.
Daily, weekly and monthly meetings, they say, allow special operations, commanders and officers in the city's five police districts to spot trends, discuss ongoing investigations and compare statistics.
Chief Steve Chalmers said he would like a specialized group for all major crimes in Durham. But the department has its hands full responding to 911 calls, handling investigations and patrolling neighborhoods, streets and shopping centers, he said.
"The truth of the matter, our staffing would not allow us to have a specialized group for every category,"
h
e said.
In nearly three out of four rape cases last year, the person reporting the attack said she knew the attacke
r, even if it was only as an acquaintance, police statistics show.
Thirty-four of the reported rapes occurred in the victim's home, 17 occurred in the suspect's home and the rest in other locations.
The Police Department is continuing to review the rape statistics, but the chief hasn't called for any specific changes.
"Any increase is a big increase with rape," he said. "[But] we don't need a special calling every time we see an increase. Even though we will analyze and look at it, it doesn't mean that we need to change what we are doing."
<span style='color:red'>The department did an in-depth analysis of last year's rape reports. Officials looked at the age and race of those reporting the crime. And it studied details, such as the relationship to the suspect, where they met and where the crime occurred.
</sp
an>
Department spokeswoman Kammie Michael said the information could help determine if a serial rapist is on the prowl and help in crime-prevention education. The s
tatistics indicate there isn't a serial rapist, Michael said.
The department "entertained" the idea of a special victims unit. But, Chalmers said, until it understands the trend better, he can't say whether he will establish one.
Mayor Bill Bell said Chalmers might have to rethink that.
"I understand his resource issue," Bell said. "I also understand if something seems to be increasing, like the rate we see here, we have to do something differently and focus on it."
When Bell first became mayor in 2001, elected officials asked the police department to increase its arrest rates on reported crimes. Since then, there has been a big improvement, Bell said.
"They did that because they began a focus," Bell said. "I think the rape situation is
similar.&
quot;
***********
Any analysis that doesn't include the race of the perp is an exercise in futility.
T.N.B.
Rape reports hit 5-year high in '04
DURHAM -- A stranger. A co-worker. A boyfriend.
That is how some of the 89 women who reported being raped in Durham last year described their attacker.
Rape reports hit a five-year high, up 12 from the year before. That's an increase of more than 15 percent.
Police and leaders of local sexual assault programs can't say whether the numbers mean more rapes are occurring, or whether people are becoming more comfortable reporting the attacks.
"I am not sure if [the increase] is relevant," said Joy Cunningham, co-executive director of the Durham Crisis Response Center. "What is, is we as a community failed."
Cunningham and co-director Ada Gregory said the Police Department has improved its response
nto rape and sexual assault but needs a central system for tracking sex crimes.
A cen
tral unit, the women said, would help police connect patterns, track repeat offenders and identify criminals whose misdemeanor crimes, such as peeping or exposing themselves in public, could escalate to sexual assault and rape.
Police officials said they can't afford a special unit and that the current system works well.
Daily, weekly and monthly meetings, they say, allow special operations, commanders and officers in the city's five police districts to spot trends, discuss ongoing investigations and compare statistics.
Chief Steve Chalmers said he would like a specialized group for all major crimes in Durham. But the department has its hands full responding to 911 calls, handling investigations and patrolling neighborhoods, streets and shopping centers, he said.
"The truth of the matter, our staffing would not allow us to have a specialized group for every category,"
h
e said.
In nearly three out of four rape cases last year, the person reporting the attack said she knew the attacke
r, even if it was only as an acquaintance, police statistics show.
Thirty-four of the reported rapes occurred in the victim's home, 17 occurred in the suspect's home and the rest in other locations.
The Police Department is continuing to review the rape statistics, but the chief hasn't called for any specific changes.
"Any increase is a big increase with rape," he said. "[But] we don't need a special calling every time we see an increase. Even though we will analyze and look at it, it doesn't mean that we need to change what we are doing."
<span style='color:red'>The department did an in-depth analysis of last year's rape reports. Officials looked at the age and race of those reporting the crime. And it studied details, such as the relationship to the suspect, where they met and where the crime occurred.
</sp
an>
Department spokeswoman Kammie Michael said the information could help determine if a serial rapist is on the prowl and help in crime-prevention education. The s
tatistics indicate there isn't a serial rapist, Michael said.
The department "entertained" the idea of a special victims unit. But, Chalmers said, until it understands the trend better, he can't say whether he will establish one.
Mayor Bill Bell said Chalmers might have to rethink that.
"I understand his resource issue," Bell said. "I also understand if something seems to be increasing, like the rate we see here, we have to do something differently and focus on it."
When Bell first became mayor in 2001, elected officials asked the police department to increase its arrest rates on reported crimes. Since then, there has been a big improvement, Bell said.
"They did that because they began a focus," Bell said. "I think the rape situation is
similar.&
quot;
***********
Any analysis that doesn't include the race of the perp is an exercise in futility.
T.N.B.