1/ The latest story to come out of our Reveal Reporting Networks landed today in @eastbayexpress, and it’s a BIG one.
On paper, police in #Oakland, CA, solve 60% of reported sexual assaults.
Yet only 13% of its cases actually lead to arrest.
Why? eastbayexpress.com/oakland/why-do…
On paper, police in #Oakland, CA, solve 60% of reported sexual assaults.
Yet only 13% of its cases actually lead to arrest.
Why? eastbayexpress.com/oakland/why-do…
2/ “Oakland police inexplicably terminated more than 250 felony sexual assault cases during the three years from 2014 to 2016,” @eastbayexpress reports.
3/ In 253 separate sexual assault cases, the survivor wanted to press charges, and the police claimed to have cracked the case. Yet ultimately, the case was abandoned for no apparent reason, per @EastBayExpress' reporting.
4/ So what does @oaklandpoliceca have to say about this?
Why do they “abandon so many cases of sexual assault even though they believe they have conclusively identified and located the attacker,” asks @eastbayexpress?
Why do they “abandon so many cases of sexual assault even though they believe they have conclusively identified and located the attacker,” asks @eastbayexpress?
5/ No one can say. That's because they haven’t responded to multiple requests for an interview and more information.
Here are some other questions @eastbayexpress wanted answers to – and didn’t get.
Here are some other questions @eastbayexpress wanted answers to – and didn’t get.
6/ By the way, Oakland police have sent their 2017-2018 rape clearance data to the FBI, as is required by law.
CA law requires them to give that data to @eastbayexpress after a formal written request.
They haven’t done it.
CA law requires them to give that data to @eastbayexpress after a formal written request.
They haven’t done it.
7/ This story grew out of our 2018 “Case Cleared” investigation with @newsy and @propublica.
We found that police across the U.S. are making it appear as though they have solved a significant share of their rape cases when they simply have closed them. revealnews.org/article/rape-s…
We found that police across the U.S. are making it appear as though they have solved a significant share of their rape cases when they simply have closed them. revealnews.org/article/rape-s…
8/ You can hear both hours of our two-part episode on the topic here:
Part I: revealnews.org/episodes/case-…
Part II: revealnews.org/episodes/case-…
Part I: revealnews.org/episodes/case-…
Part II: revealnews.org/episodes/case-…
9/ Our reporting has already led to major changes in Austin, Texas.
In May, the state’s House of Representatives voted unanimously (146-0) to reform how rapes are tracked and prosecuted there. revealnews.org/blog/texas-hou…
In May, the state’s House of Representatives voted unanimously (146-0) to reform how rapes are tracked and prosecuted there. revealnews.org/blog/texas-hou…
10/ Want to know if your police department is inflating rape clearance rates?
Check out @propublica’s graphic here: projects.propublica.org/graphics/rape_…
Check out @propublica’s graphic here: projects.propublica.org/graphics/rape_…
11/ And if you’re a local reporter who wants to push big stories like this further at the local level, please sign up for our @Reveal Reporting Networks here: revealnews.org/network
