Disturbing Incidents of sexual assault in the subway system —most perpetrated against women by men—continue to be reported. Sometimes they are given are a less frightening name: forcible touching, and because most forcible touching cases are misdemeanors, they are rarely commented upon by those who lean heavily on “index felonies” as their barometer for public safety.
Add in the obstacles in reporting such crimes—starting with the fact that most people on the subway need are going somewhere that doesn’t include time to sit down with Transit cops after they get they’re grabbed or grinded upon—and the problem is more certainly more pervasive than public dialogue indicates.
Thus the common perception that the subways are still pretty dangerous, especially for women…