Military Sees Fewer Sex Assault Reports

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Reports of sexual assaults in the military declined last year, reversing a trend of significant increases over the past several years

The number of sexual assaults reported by military members in 2007 was 2,688, compared with 2,947 in 2006, a decline of about 9 percent. Officials note, however, that some changes in the data-reporting make it difficult to compare numbers year to year. In 2005, there were about 2,400 sexual assaults reported

The 2007 decline comes after sex assault reports jumped by about 24 percent in 2006 and nearly 40 percent in 2005 — increases military officials attributed in part to more aggressive efforts to encourage victims to come forward

Information about the report was provided by officials on condition of anonymity

The cases involved members of the military who were either victims or accused of the assault

The military counts rape, nonconsensual sodomy, indecent assault and attempts to commit any of those as sexual assaul