Advertisement

Advocates: U.S. rapes underreported

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- Thousands of sexual assaults are not reflected in the U.S. government's yearly crime report because of a narrow definition of rape, advocates say.

The FBI defined rape more than 80 years ago as "the carnal knowledge of a female, forcibly and against her will." Critics say that definition doesn't take into account other types of sexual assault like oral or anal penetration or cases involving male victims, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

Advertisement

"The public has the right to know about the prevalence of crime and violent crime in our communities, and we know that data drives practices, resources, policies and programs," said Carol Tracy, executive director of the Women's Law Project in Philadelphia. "It's critical that we strive to have accurate information about this."

Greg Scarbro, unit chief for the FBI Uniformed Crime Report, said FBI officials will discuss the issue at an Oct. 18 meeting in Baltimore.

"Our goal will be to leave that meeting with a definition and a mechanism," he said.

Latest Headlines