Rape case clearance rate at all-time low nationally, but improving in Duval County

Police departments across the country are struggling to solve rape cases.

That’s according to the Associated Press, which obtained FBI data showing just 32% of rape investigations were successfully closed nationwide in 2017.

The data ranked sexual assaults second only to robbery as the least-solved violent crime.

Teresa Miles, with the Women’s Center of Jacksonville, said she feels the national numbers don’t represent what’s happening locally.

“There has been some tremendous strides since 2014,” Miles said.

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She highlighted the elimination of the rape kit backlog in Jacksonville.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said in Duval County, police investigated 581 reported rapes in 2017. Of those, 81 resulted in arrests.

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That gives Duval County a clearance rate of 13.9%, which is up from 10.9% in 2016.

According to FDLE data, Florida’s rape clearance rate was 23.5% in 2017.

Cox Media Group