In my latest story for Oakland Magazine, I report that three East Bay police departments — in Berkeley, Concord and Oakland — have some of the highest rates of unfounded rape reports in the nation, according to data submitted to the FBI.
Exactly why their rates are so much higher than other law enforcement agencies isn’t entirely clear, it could be poor investigatory practices or errors in record keeping. I submitted records requests to review individual reports, but have yet to receive any records, with Berkeley issuing a flat denial.
While reporting this story, I submitted records requests for unfounded rape reports to all three police departments. While Concord and Oakland said they are reviewing records for public release, Berkeley sent this blanket denial, snail mail. pic.twitter.com/7Xktqcm1bp
— Scott Morris (@OakMorr) January 10, 2018
Here is the data I obtained from the FBI and the individual departments:
Berkeley |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
| Total rapes, according to Berkeley Police Department | 29 | 43 | 41 | 53 | |
| Total rapes, FBI data (Started using revised rape definition in 2014) | 26 | 35 | 44 | 54 | |
| Unfounded rape reports, FBI data | 22 | 40 | 20 | 22 | |
| Percent of rape reports determined to be unfounded, FBI data | 45.8% | 53.3% | 31.3% | 28.9% | |
| Total rape reports including unfounded, FBI data | 48 | 75 | 64 | 76 | |
Concord |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
| Total rapes, FBI data (Started using revised rape definition midway in 2014) | 12 | 22 | 29 | 31 | |
| Unfounded rape reports, FBI data | 9 | 27 | 29 | 26 | |
| Percent of rape reports determined to be unfounded, FBI data | 42.9% | 55.1% | 50.0% | 45.6% | |
| Total rape reports including unfounded, FBI data | 21 | 49 | 58 | 57 | |
Oakland |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
| Total rapes, according to Oakland Police Department | 177 | 210 | 213 | 191 | |
| Total rapes, FBI data (Started using revised rape definition in 2015) | 180 | 209 | 285 | 277 | |
| Unfounded rape reports, FBI data | 78 | 107 | 40 | 35 | |
| Percent of rape reports determined to be unfounded, FBI data | 30.2% | 33.9% | 12.3% | 11.2% | |
| Total rape reports including unfounded, FBI data | 258 | 316 | 325 | 312 | |
Statewide |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
| Total rapes, FBI data | 7,463 | 9,203 | 12,794 | 13,695 | |
| Unfounded rape reports, FBI data | 453 | 590 | 687 | 574 | |
| Percent of rape reports determined to be unfounded, FBI data | 5.7% | 5.4% | 5.1% | 4.0% | |
| Total rape reports including unfounded, FBI data | 7,916 | 9,793 | 13,481 | 14,269 |
