Over nearly a decade, the State College Police Department underreported hundreds of rapes in public data, a Spotlight PA investigation found, masking the true extent of the crime in the community surrounding Penn State. • Spotlight PA

Missing Rapes

About our Missing Rapes coverage

Over nearly a decade, the State College Police Department underreported hundreds of rapes in public data, a Spotlight PA investigation found, masking the true extent of the crime in the community surrounding Penn State.

Dec. 18, 2025

An illustration of two police officers standing in front of filing cabinets with hands coming out of the files.

Hundreds of rapes in the State College area weren’t reported in public police data over nearly a decade

by Min Xian of Spotlight PA State College and Mark Fazlollah for Spotlight PA

The missing data masked the true extent of the crime surrounding Penn State. The central Pa. department never publicly disclosed the error until contacted by Spotlight PA.

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