Hi, I’m @allisonsross, the state accountability reporter for the Times. I’ve been looking at how rape cases get cleared without an arrest.
Here’s how the Pinellas Sheriff’s Office boosts its rape stats: trib.al/cXOUDhA
Here’s how the Pinellas Sheriff’s Office boosts its rape stats: trib.al/cXOUDhA
@allisonsross We started looking at “exceptionally cleared” rape cases following a 2018 investigation by @propublica, @newsy and @reveal: propublica.org/article/when-i…
@allisonsross @propublica @Newsy @reveal Exceptionally cleared cases count toward a clearance rate, a measure of how well agencies are resolving crimes.
The category is for when police have enough evidence to make an arrest but can’t, for reasons outside of their control. tampabay.com/florida-politi…
The category is for when police have enough evidence to make an arrest but can’t, for reasons outside of their control. tampabay.com/florida-politi…
@allisonsross @propublica @Newsy @reveal From 2014 to 2018, @SheriffPinellas reported more than 750 rapes to the state and federal government.
It said it cleared 440. But only 111 of those ended in arrest.
The rest of those cleared cases were exceptionally closed.
trib.al/cXOUDhA
It said it cleared 440. But only 111 of those ended in arrest.
The rest of those cleared cases were exceptionally closed.
trib.al/cXOUDhA
@allisonsross @propublica @Newsy @reveal @SheriffPinellas The Times reviewed dozens of these exceptionally cleared rape cases and found some that were counted as cleared before authorities had investigated enough to make an arrest.
Sometimes, cases were cleared before it was confirmed a crime had occurred.
trib.al/cXOUDhA
Sometimes, cases were cleared before it was confirmed a crime had occurred.
trib.al/cXOUDhA
@allisonsross @propublica @Newsy @reveal @SheriffPinellas We had experts review some @SheriffPinellas case files, and they found missed investigative opportunities and failures to meet best practices in handling sexual assault cases. tampabay.com/florida-politi…
@allisonsross @propublica @Newsy @reveal @SheriffPinellas If you are a Florida survivor of sexual assault and want to share your experience of the criminal justice system, you can reach me at aross@tampabay.com.
My DMs (@allisonsross) are open. I won’t publish your information without your permission.
My DMs (@allisonsross) are open. I won’t publish your information without your permission.
@allisonsross @propublica @Newsy @reveal @SheriffPinellas This investigation took months and several open records requests.
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To support more work like this, consider subscribing at tampabay.com/subscribe or donating to our investigative fund at tampabay.com/donate.
