Reports of Sexual Assaults Spike at Military Academies

Reports of sexual assaults at three military academies spiked by more than 50 percent in the past year.

According to a new report from the Defense Department, there have been 91 reported sexual assaults over the last year at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, the U.S Military Academy at West Point, New York, and the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado.

At the Air Force Academy alone the number of sexual assault cases have nearly doubled and harrassment complaints have increased by 40 percent.

A senior defense official says the sharp increases were due largely to students' growing confidence in the reporting system and expanded awareness programs that over the past several years have included training, videos, and information sessions for both students and leaders.

The programs have aimed at making victims more aware of the reporting process and more comfortable seeking help.

Officials acknowledged that it is often difficult to tell how much of the increase in numbers stems from more crime or more reporting.