Violent Crime Down, but Sexual Assaults on the Rise in New Jersey
The number of rapes in New Jersey is on the rise, according to statistics recently released by the FBI. According to the FBI’s annual Uniform Crime Report, reported rapes in NJ increased from 1,189 in 2013 to 1,274 in 2014. That represents a 7% increase in just one year.
One possible explanation for this sharp rise in 2014 could be that the FBI recently changed its definition of rape. The new, broader definition of rape now being used by the FBI includes male victims and nonconsensual sexual acts committed with objects, both of which were not previously documented by the agency’s annual crime statistics report.
NJ Violent Crime Rate Declines for Third Year in a Row
Interestingly, the total number of violent crimes, defined to include not just sexual assault but also murder, aggravated assault and robbery, in New Jersey declined from nearly 26,000 in 2013 to slightly more than 23,000 in 2014. That represents a drop of more than 9%. Moreover, the rate of just 261 violent crimes per 100,000 NJ residents was the lowest in the Tri-State area, with New York showing a significantly higher rate of 381 violent crimes per 100,000 residents and Pennsylvania showing a rate of 314 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.
The decrease in violent crimes in New Jersey is not limited to 2014; there has been a downward trend in the violent crime rate since 2011, when the FBI Uniform Crime Report calculated more than 308 violent crimes per 100,000 NJ residents.
The most recent NJ State Police Uniform Crime Report supports the FBI data. The total number of murders committed in NJ declined considerably from 404 in 2013 to 349 in 2014, according to the New Jersey State Police report. In fact, the state data indicates that the overall crime rate in New Jersey declined by 7% from the previous year.
If you are facing any serious criminal charges, including rape or sexual assault, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney who knows how to discreetly handle sex crime charges in New Jersey. Contact the law firm of Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold & Mangan, LLC today to schedule a free consultation about your charges.