Police say a 19-year-old girl was thrown to the ground from a bench and raped on Sept. 17 at a Fordham park.

A day later, a 33-year-old woman was punched multiple times and sexually assaulted near a Stop & Shop in Kingsbridge.

These are just two reported incidents of nearly 400 in the Bronx this year.

"The number keeps getting higher and higher," said Yadirys Batista, the assistant director for the Changing Futures program at the Kingsbridge Heights Community Center.

The Changing Futures Program is the only rape crisis center in the borough. The program provides trauma support and resources for survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence as young as 3 years old.

"Some of those clients come to us when something happens, maybe months or years after, to get trauma therapy," said Batista.

The NYPD has reported a 27% increase in reported rape incidents in the Bronx this year, with 390 cases reported as of mid-September, compared to 307 at the same time last year.

Advocates say that spike is partially due to the Rape Is Rape law that was passed by Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2024. The law broadened the definition of rape to include all forms of non-consensual contact.

"In the past, groping wasn't seen reportable by something, now we are seeing clients coming into our office and reporting that to police," said Saran Diakite, who works with Safe Horizon, a victim service organization in the Bronx.

"This is something that's being taken seriously now by the justice system, and the statistics that are out there are reflecting the scope of sexual assault in our city," said Diaktie.

Advocates say still too many survivors are afraid to come forward and file reports.

"A lot of clients that come through our doors don't want to make reports they are either afraid of retaliation due to the abuser, or they don't feel safe going to the police," said Batista.

If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault or rape you can call the Changing Futures 24/7 Rape Crisis Hotline at

718-884-0700 at extension 193.