Increase in sexual assault reporting in Bethlehem

Bethlehem saw a 46% increase in reported sexual assault from 2024 to 2025, according to Bethlehem Police Department data. 

According to Will Audelo, a captain and public information officer with the Bethlehem Police Department, there were 24 reported cases in 2024, compared to 35 reported cases in 2025. 

Though this increase is notable, victims advocates said the increase is likely due to more people being willing to report when crimes happen, as opposed to an increase in sexual assaults. 

Audelo also said tracking reports of sexual assault is difficult because it’s extremely underreported. 

“Rape and sexual assault investigations are complex and differ from other crimes we investigate,” Audelo said. “We may not receive notification of a rape until a year after the assault occurred.”

Audelo said the Bethlehem Police Department has transitioned from a Uniform Crime Reporting program to the National Incident-Based Reporting System. 

He said the National Incident-Based Reporting System is designed to provide more detailed information than previous systems, with more in-depth information. 

Although the National Incident-Based Reporting System was created to improve statistics, Audelo said the system has a more complicated database, which can lead to issues with the reporting system itself. 

Rachel Huegel, training program coordinator at Crime Victims Council, said their crime records for adult sexual assault have stayed relatively consistent, but reports involving child sexual assault have increased. 

She said when reviewing the organization’s numbers from the past decade, sexual assault rates for cases with adult survivors have fairly stayed the same, averaging about 400 cases each year. 

“However, we went from having 520 clients who were child victims of sexual abuse or assault in 2021 to 2022 to a total of 737 in 2024 to 2025, ” Huegel said.

Huegel also said the number of services provided to victims has increased. 

“Our hospital runs and law enforcement accompaniments have also increased over the past few years, which I believe can primarily be attributed to an increase in community awareness,” Huegel said.  

Audelo said there are many different reasons statistics can increase and decrease from year to year, but there’s not a significant reason the department can identify for the increase in reported sexual assaults. 

Huegel offered a different explanation. 

When looking at the statistics, Huegel said she believes the increase in reports doesn’t necessarily mean there aren’t victims, but that more people may be willing to report. 

She said the Crime Victims Council has done a lot of community outreach over the past few years as a way to get their name and services out there.

“Thankfully, there has been an overall shift and change in our culture altogether,” she said. “Unfortunately, there is still a rigged culture that exists and many survivors still experience victim blaming, but there has also been a huge movement and increase in prevention education and community outreach as well as a lot more established resources and support for survivors.”

Panayiota Papadopoulos, Training and Education Advocate for Turning Point of Lehigh Valley, said the increase in reports is likely due to more widespread resources. 

“More people are recognizing that these resources exist and reaching out for support,” Papadopoulos said. “So hopefully that means that we’re doing a good job because they’re trusting us enough to reach out.” 

Turning Point of Lehigh Valley and Crime Victims Council are community resources for victims that provide support in many different ways. 

Huegel said one of the things that the organization is known for the most is going to be counseling services, especially for victims of sexual assault. 

“It does not matter when the assault happened,” she said. “It could have been 50 years ago. It could have been something that just happened yesterday.” 

Turning Point of Lehigh Valley and Crime Victims Council both provide confidential services at no cost, which include a 24/7 helpline, counseling services and court accompaniment and advocacy. 

Additionally, Crime Victims Council offers both hospital and police accompaniment services. 

Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley also offers emergency safe housing options for survivors of intimate partner abuse who are fleeing abuse and in immediate danger.

“We really try to have some type of support throughout every step of the way, no matter what our clients want to do,” Papadopoulos said. “I would also say a big piece is just trust and credibility. I imagine that a lot of that stems from just having a clear, supportive and credible staff who are there truly to advocate for survivors.”