Mark Fazlollah, Author at Women's eNews

Experts Question Accuracy of New Rape Statistics

By Mark Fazlollah ● Crime & Law ● June 19, 2001

New government crime statistics showed the number of rapes dropped by a third last year, from 141,070 in 1999 to 92,440 in 2000. But many women’s advocates and criminologists don’t trust the numbers or the reporting methods.

Detroit Police Admit Rape Arrest Stats Were Wrong

By Mark Fazlollah ● Crime & Law ● April 27, 2001

The Detroit Police Department now admits that its statistics for rape arrests, like those for murder, were off the mark, so high that they skewed national crime statistics. Women’s advocates say the false numbers gave them a false sense of security.

Women Activists Monitor Philadelphia Rape Squad

By Mark Fazlollah ● Arts & Culture ● February 19, 2001

For years, Philadelphia police had been lying about rape, burying or shelving cases to improve crime stats. To counter a crisis of public confidence, the commissioner created the nation’s first women’s review of rape reports. Arrests went up.

City, National Rape Statistics Highly Suspect

By Mark Fazlollah ● Crime & Law ● January 8, 2001

Growing evidence indicates that the problem of police departments dismissing and underreporting rapes is widespread. The reasons for the numbers game may range from a desire for the department to appear successful to the belief that women often lie.

Police May Ignore Rape Complaints to Boost Image

By Mark Fazlollah ● Crime & Law ● June 15, 2000

A prize-winning reporter writes that police rape statistics in some major cities may be low only because police simply ignore women’s complaints. One city reporting a high number of rapes is also a city with a model program to assist victims.

Mark Fazlollah

Mark Fazlollah's Latest Articles

Experts Question Accuracy of New Rape Statistics

Detroit Police Admit Rape Arrest Stats Were Wrong

Women Activists Monitor Philadelphia Rape Squad

City, National Rape Statistics Highly Suspect

Police May Ignore Rape Complaints to Boost Image