Crime Statistics in Minnesota 2026 | Key Facts

Crime in Minnesota 2026

Minnesota has experienced notable shifts in criminal activity over the past year, with comprehensive data from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension revealing important trends for residents and policymakers. The state’s 2024 crime statistics (the most recent complete dataset available) show a continuation of declining trends that began after the pandemic-era spike in criminal activity. Understanding these patterns helps communities allocate resources effectively and implement targeted prevention strategies.

The latest verified data from official government sources paints a detailed picture of public safety across Minnesota’s diverse communities. While the state’s largest metropolitan areas continue to account for the majority of reported incidents, rural counties and smaller cities have shown varied patterns in both violent and property crimes. These statistics serve as critical benchmarks for law enforcement agencies, community organizations, and residents working together to enhance neighborhood safety and reduce criminal activity throughout the North Star State.

Minnesota Crime Statistics 2026: Key Facts and Latest Data

The most recent comprehensive data available shows significant changes in Minnesota’s crime landscape. According to official reports from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, statewide crime has continued its downward trajectory from pandemic-era peaks.

Data Source: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension – 2024 Uniform Crime Report

Minnesota’s overall crime rate decreased by 4.1 percent in 2024 compared to 2023, marking a positive trend for public safety across the state. The total number of index crimes fell from 114,366 to 109,648, demonstrating effective law enforcement strategies and community engagement. With a population estimate of 5,793,151 residents, the state recorded 1,893 crimes per 100,000 people, down from 1,991 in the previous year. This decline reflects broader national trends while maintaining Minnesota’s position as one of the safer states in the Upper Midwest region.

Property crimes showed the most significant improvement, declining by 4.7 percent with 94,657 reported incidents compared to 99,355 in 2023. The property crime rate dropped to 1,634 per 100,000 population from 1,730 the previous year. Motor vehicle theft experienced the sharpest decrease among all categories, plummeting by 19.32 percent from 15,612 incidents to 12,596, suggesting that anti-theft initiatives and enhanced vehicle security measures are proving effective. Larceny and theft offenses also declined by 2.48 percent, while arson cases decreased by 6.07 percent to 588 incidents statewide.

Violent Crime in Minnesota 2024

Violent crime encompasses offenses that involve force or threat of force against victims, including murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. These crimes have the most significant impact on community safety perceptions and quality of life.

Data Source: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension – 2024 Uniform Crime Report

Minnesota’s violent crime remained nearly stable in 2024 with minimal change from the previous year, showing a slight decrease of 0.1 percent. The state recorded 14,991 violent crimes compared to 15,011 in 2023, with a rate of 259 incidents per 100,000 residents. This stability comes after years of increases during the pandemic period, suggesting that violent crime may be reaching a plateau. Law enforcement agencies cleared 6,947 violent crimes through arrests or exceptional means, representing a 46.3 percent clearance rate, which demonstrates investigative effectiveness despite resource constraints facing many departments.

Murder and non-negligent manslaughter showed encouraging improvement, dropping 6.07 percent from 181 to 170 victims in 2024. Of these homicides, 129 were cleared by arrest or exceptional means, yielding a 76 percent clearance rate—significantly higher than the national average. Aggravated assault, which constitutes the largest category of violent crime, decreased by 1.60 percent to 9,826 incidents. However, rape offenses increased by 5.16 percent to 2,159 reported cases, and robberies rose by 1.61 percent to 2,836 incidents, indicating areas requiring enhanced prevention and victim support services. The emergence of 426 carjacking incidents as a separately tracked category highlights this growing concern in urban areas.

Homicide Statistics in Minnesota 2024

Criminal homicide represents the most serious category of violent crime and receives intense focus from law enforcement and community stakeholders. Minnesota tracks both criminal homicides and negligent manslaughter separately.

Data Source: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension – 2024 Uniform Crime Report

Minnesota experienced 170 criminal homicides in 2024, representing a 6.07 percent decrease from the 181 murders recorded in 2023. An additional 51 negligent manslaughter cases were reported, bringing the total to 221 homicide-related deaths when including both criminal and negligent categories. The state also recorded 12 justifiable homicides, which are not included in criminal homicide totals as they involve lawful killings by law enforcement or civilians acting in self-defense. With a homicide rate of 3 per 100,000 residents, Minnesota maintains a significantly lower murder rate than the national average.

Law enforcement achieved remarkable success in solving these cases, with 76 percent of murders cleared through arrest or exceptional means in 2024. This clearance rate substantially exceeds the national average and reflects the dedication of investigative units across the state. Negligent manslaughter cases showed an even higher clearance rate of 82 percent, with 42 of 51 cases resolved. The Minneapolis Police Department handled the highest caseload with 77 homicide victims across 72 incidents, while St. Paul Police Department investigated 26 victims in 26 separate incidents. Handguns remained the most common weapon used in 61 homicides, followed by unspecified firearms in 60 cases and knives or cutting instruments in 17 incidents.

Sexual Assault and Rape in Minnesota 2024

Sexual assault crimes include rape, sodomy, sexual assault with an object, and fondling. These offenses often go unreported, making the actual numbers likely higher than official statistics reflect.

Data Source: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension – 2024 Uniform Crime Report

Rape offenses in Minnesota increased by 5.16 percent in 2024, with 2,159 reported incidents compared to 2,053 in 2023. The FBI’s definition of rape includes penetration without consent, encompassing rape, sodomy, and sexual assault with an object, which totaled 2,159 offenses affecting 2,155 victims. Of these, 2,120 were completed offenses and 39 were attempted. The rate of 37.3 rapes per 100,000 population places Minnesota below the national average, though experts emphasize that sexual assault remains significantly underreported across all jurisdictions.

Law enforcement cleared 674 rape cases in 2024, representing a 31 percent clearance rate that reflects the investigative challenges inherent in these cases. Fondling offenses were the most frequently reported sexual crime with 2,400 incidents, though these cases had a lower clearance rate of 28 percent. The majority of victims knew their attackers, with 648 cases involving acquaintances, 259 cases where the relationship was unknown, and 219 involving boyfriends or girlfriends. Only 136 cases involved strangers, contradicting common misconceptions about sexual assault. Personal weapons (hands, fists, feet) were used in 1,580 incidents, while 114 cases involved unknown force types. Residences or homes were the most common location for these crimes, accounting for 1,473 incidents, followed by hotels or motels with 811 cases.

Robbery Crime in Minnesota 2024

Robbery involves taking property from another person by force or threat of force. This crime category bridges violent and property crime, as it involves both theft and violence or intimidation.

Data Source: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension – 2024 Uniform Crime Report

Robbery incidents increased by 1.61 percent in 2024, rising from 2,791 to 2,836 reported offenses statewide. These incidents affected 3,459 victims, with the majority being individuals (3,220) rather than businesses (213). The robbery rate stood at 48.9 per 100,000 residents, with 2,573 completed robberies and 263 attempted robberies. Law enforcement cleared 643 robbery cases through arrest or exceptional means, representing a 23 percent clearance rate, with 105 cases involving only juvenile offenders.

Geographic analysis reveals that robberies concentrate heavily in urban areas, with highways, roads, alleys, streets, and sidewalks accounting for 1,423 incidents—the single largest location category. Residences and homes were the second most common location with 292 robberies, followed by parking lots and garages with 280 incidents. Handguns were the most frequently used weapon in 992 robberies, while 899 incidents involved personal weapons (hands, fists, feet), and 264 cases involved knives or cutting instruments. The most commonly stolen property was money, taken in 846 robberies, followed by portable electronic communications devices in 815 cases and purses, handbags, or wallets in 735 incidents. Total stolen property value exceeded $9.8 million, with only $1.9 million recovered.

Carjacking in Minnesota 2024

Carjacking represents a specific type of robbery where motor vehicles are stolen through force or threat while occupants are present. This crime has received increased attention due to its violent nature and impact on community safety.

Data Source: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension – 2024 Uniform Crime Report

Minnesota law enforcement agencies reported 426 carjacking incidents in 2024, with 379 completed and 47 attempted carjackings affecting 501 victims across the state. The carjacking rate of 7.3 incidents per 100,000 residents represents a significant public safety concern, particularly in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. These incidents were cleared at a 27 percent rate, with 115 cases resolved through arrest or exceptional means, and 37 cases involving only juvenile offenders—highlighting the troubling trend of youth involvement in this violent crime.

The Minneapolis Police Department handled the overwhelming majority of carjackings with 329 incidents, representing 77 percent of all statewide carjackings. St. Paul Police Department reported 35 carjackings, while Bloomington had 6 incidents. Most carjacking victims were uninjured (363), though 138 victims sustained injuries of varying severity. Among injured victims, 109 suffered apparent minor injuries, 12 experienced severe lacerations, and 11 had possible internal injuries. Handguns were the most common weapon used in 208 carjackings, followed by personal weapons (hands, fists, feet) in 105 incidents and knives or cutting instruments in 42 cases. Offender age data shows that 197 were under 18 years old, 167 were ages 18-24, and 110 were ages 25-34, demonstrating that carjacking predominantly involves younger perpetrators.

Aggravated Assault in Minnesota 2024

Aggravated assault involves attacks with weapons or attacks resulting in serious bodily injury. This category represents the largest component of violent crime in Minnesota.

Data Source: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension – 2024 Uniform Crime Report

Aggravated assault decreased by 1.60 percent in 2024, with 9,826 victims compared to 9,986 in 2023. These incidents occurred across 8,143 separate events, indicating some incidents involved multiple victims. The aggravated assault rate of 169.6 per 100,000 residents represents the highest rate among violent crime categories and accounts for approximately 66 percent of all violent crime in Minnesota. Law enforcement cleared 5,501 cases through arrest or exceptional means, achieving a 56 percent clearance rate—substantially higher than property crime clearance rates.

Weapons usage varied significantly, with 4,995 incidents involving knives or cutting instruments, making edged weapons the most common tool in aggravated assaults. Personal weapons (hands, fists, feet) were used in 2,243 cases, while 2,368 incidents involved handguns. Victim-offender relationships reveal that 2,817 cases involved unknown relationships, 1,444 involved acquaintances, and 1,339 involved current boyfriends or girlfriends. Residences or homes were the most common location for aggravated assaults with 4,995 incidents, followed by highways, roads, alleys, streets, and sidewalks with 2,034 incidents. Demographic data shows that males comprised 5,340 victims compared to 4,365 females, and Black residents experienced 4,252 incidents while White residents experienced 3,015 incidents, highlighting disparities that require targeted intervention strategies.

Property Crime in Minnesota 2024

Property crime includes burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. These offenses significantly impact community economics and quality of life, though they don’t involve direct violence against victims.

Data Source: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension – 2024 Uniform Crime Report

Property crime declined by 4.7 percent in 2024, falling from 99,355 to 94,657 reported incidents. The property crime rate decreased to 1,634 per 100,000 population from 1,730 in 2023, representing significant progress in protecting residents’ property and economic security. Property crimes accounted for 43.1 percent of all reported offenses in Minnesota, making them the most common crime category despite the decline. Law enforcement cleared 19,914 property crime cases, achieving a 21 percent clearance rate—substantially lower than violent crime clearance rates due to the investigative challenges and resource constraints associated with property offenses.

Motor vehicle theft showed the most dramatic improvement, plummeting 19.32 percent from 15,612 to 12,596 incidents. This significant decrease likely reflects enhanced vehicle security technology, targeted enforcement efforts, and community awareness campaigns. Larceny and theft remained the most common property crime with 70,898 incidents, though this represented a 2.48 percent decrease from the previous year. Burglary increased slightly by 1.54 percent to 10,576 incidents, bucking the overall downward trend in property crime. Arson cases decreased by 6.07 percent to 588 incidents, with 574 completed arsons and 14 attempted arsons. The total value of stolen property across all categories exceeded hundreds of millions of dollars, with recovery rates varying significantly by property type.

Burglary in Minnesota 2024

Burglary involves unlawful entry into structures to commit theft or other felonies. Minnesota distinguishes burglary from robbery, as burglary doesn’t involve direct confrontation with victims during the crime.

Data Source: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension – 2024 Uniform Crime Report

Burglary increased by 1.54 percent in 2024, rising from 10,416 to 10,576 incidents statewide. These burglaries affected 12,505 victims, with 10,179 completed and 397 attempted break-ins. The burglary rate of 182.6 per 100,000 residents represents a concerning uptick against the broader declining property crime trend. Law enforcement cleared only 2,039 burglary cases, achieving a 19 percent clearance rate, with 107 cases involving only juvenile offenders. The low clearance rate reflects the investigative challenges of burglary cases, where physical evidence may be limited and witnesses rarely observe the crime in progress.

Individual residences bore the brunt of burglary activity, representing 9,330 of the 12,505 victims, while businesses accounted for 2,751 victims. Residential properties were the most common target location with 5,907 incidents, followed by parking lots, drop lots, and garages with 1,010 burglaries. The most frequently stolen items were miscellaneous other property (2,380 incidents), followed by items with no assigned value (2,259 incidents), tools (1,399 incidents), and money (1,121 incidents). Total stolen property value from burglaries exceeded $21 million, with jewelry and precious metals accounting for $5.7 million in losses, motor vehicles worth $2.6 million stolen, and tools valued at $2 million taken. Recovery rates remained low, with only $792,000 in property recovered compared to the total stolen value.

Larceny and Theft in Minnesota 2024

Larceny encompasses theft without unlawful entry or use of force. This broad category includes shoplifting, theft from motor vehicles, and various other theft types.

Data Source: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension – 2024 Uniform Crime Report

Larceny and theft decreased by 2.48 percent in 2024, with 70,898 reported incidents affecting 73,624 victims compared to 72,701 incidents in 2023. The larceny rate of 1,223.8 per 100,000 population makes this the most common crime category in Minnesota, accounting for approximately 32 percent of all reported offenses. Law enforcement cleared 16,866 larceny cases, representing a 24 percent clearance rate, with 918 cases involving only juvenile offenders. Clearance rates varied dramatically by larceny type, with shoplifting achieving 57 percent clearance while theft from motor vehicles managed only 3 percent clearance.

Shoplifting and all other larceny represented the two largest categories, nearly tied at 23,725 and 23,297 incidents respectively. Theft from motor vehicles remained a persistent problem with 13,792 incidents, while theft from buildings accounted for 6,361 cases. Individual victims comprised 42,657 of the total, with businesses suffering 30,111 theft incidents. The most common locations were residences or homes with 17,917 incidents, followed by department or discount stores with 13,171 incidents and parking lots or garages with 7,350 thefts. The most frequently stolen items included miscellaneous other property (13,617 incidents), merchandise (12,358 incidents), clothing or furs (6,667 incidents), and money (6,092 incidents). Total stolen property value exceeded $60 million, with money accounting for $14 million in losses and other property valued at $9.2 million stolen.

Motor Vehicle Theft in Minnesota 2024

Motor vehicle theft involves stealing automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, and other motorized vehicles. This category excludes carjacking, which is classified as robbery due to the use of force.

Data Source: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension – 2024 Uniform Crime Report

Motor vehicle theft plummeted by 19.32 percent in 2024, dropping from 15,612 to 12,596 reported offenses—the most significant decrease among all major crime categories. This dramatic reduction occurred across 12,454 incidents affecting 12,856 victims, with 11,175 completed thefts and 1,279 attempted thefts. The motor vehicle theft rate decreased to 217.4 per 100,000 residents, though it remains elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels. Law enforcement cleared only 842 cases, achieving a 7 percent clearance rate, with 127 cases involving only juvenile offenders. The low clearance rate reflects the challenges of recovering stolen vehicles and apprehending thieves, particularly when vehicles are quickly moved across jurisdictions or stripped for parts.

Individual victims accounted for 11,910 of the total, while businesses suffered 790 motor vehicle thefts. The most common locations were highways, roads, alleys, streets, and sidewalks with 5,868 incidents, followed by parking lots, drop lots, and garages with 3,102 thefts and residences or homes with 2,322 incidents. The stolen property primarily consisted of motor vehicles valued at $52.3 million, with an impressive $24.2 million worth recovered—representing a 46 percent recovery rate by value. Additional stolen items included tools ($132,929), trailers ($111,372), and computer hardware or software ($87,071). The Twin Cities metropolitan area experienced the highest concentration of motor vehicle thefts, with Hennepin County reporting the largest share at 8,206 incidents, followed by Ramsey County with 1,896 thefts.

Arson in Minnesota 2024

Arson involves intentionally setting fires to damage property, whether structures, vehicles, or other property. This crime poses severe risks to public safety and property.

Data Source: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension – 2024 Uniform Crime Report

Arson decreased by 6.07 percent in 2024, falling from 626 to 588 reported incidents statewide. These arsons affected 734 victims across 574 completed fires and 14 attempted arsons. The arson rate of 10.1 per 100,000 residents remains relatively low compared to other property crimes, though the potential for injury and extensive property damage makes each incident particularly concerning. Law enforcement cleared 167 arson cases, achieving a 28 percent clearance rate, with 9 cases involving only juvenile offenders—indicating that arson investigations benefit from physical evidence and witness testimony more than many other property crimes.

Individual victims accounted for 406 of the total, while businesses suffered 184 arson incidents. Property damaged or destroyed included 166 cases of miscellaneous other property, 119 motor vehicles, 61 other structures, and 49 single-occupancy dwellings. The most common locations were residences or homes with 174 incidents, followed by highways, roads, alleys, streets, and sidewalks with 85 arsons and parking lots, drop lots, or garages with 59 fires. Total property damage was classified as burned in 574 incidents, with 13 cases reporting no property damage and 1 case with unknown damage status. The intentional nature of arson, combined with its potential for catastrophic harm, makes it a high-priority crime for fire investigators and law enforcement agencies working collaboratively to identify perpetrators and prevent future incidents.

Crime Arrests in Minnesota 2024

Arrest data provides insight into law enforcement activity and the demographic patterns of criminal offending. Minnesota law enforcement made significant numbers of arrests across all crime categories in 2024.

Data Source: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension – 2024 Uniform Crime Report

Minnesota law enforcement made 113,166 total arrests in 2024, consisting of 57,273 Group A arrests for major crimes and 55,893 Group B arrests for lesser offenses. The arrest rate of 1,953 per 100,000 residents reflects active enforcement efforts across urban, suburban, and rural jurisdictions. Adult arrests totaled 102,953 while juvenile arrests numbered 10,213, representing 9.02 percent of all arrests. Males comprised 81,441 arrests compared to 31,725 female arrests, showing a substantial gender disparity in criminal justice involvement that mirrors national patterns.

Driving under the influence led all arrest categories with 16,390 arrests, including 16,183 adults and 207 juveniles, demonstrating aggressive enforcement of impaired driving laws. Shoplifting arrests totaled 14,402, with 706 involving juveniles, highlighting retail theft as a persistent problem requiring both enforcement and prevention strategies. Drug and narcotic violations resulted in 7,736 arrests, with 184 juvenile arrests, while drug equipment violations added 309 more arrests. Simple assault generated 10,459 arrests, aggravated assault led to 3,993 arrests, and weapon law violations produced 2,487 arrests. Demographic breakdowns show Black residents accounted for 31,163 arrests, White residents for 57,143 arrests, American Indian or Alaskan Native residents for 5,680 arrests, and Asian residents for 2,546 arrests, revealing disparities requiring examination of both crime patterns and enforcement practices.

Drug-Related Crime in Minnesota 2024

Drug offenses encompass possession, distribution, manufacturing, and trafficking of controlled substances. These crimes have significant public health and public safety implications.

Data Source: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension – 2024 Uniform Crime Report

Drug and narcotic violations totaled 11,496 offenses in 2024, with an exceptional 81 percent clearance rate as 9,259 cases were resolved through arrest or exceptional means. Drug equipment violations added 762 offenses with an even higher 88 percent clearance rate. The combined drug offense rate of 212 per 100,000 residents reflects both enforcement priorities and the ongoing challenges of substance abuse across Minnesota communities. Drug-related arrests totaled 8,045, including 7,736 arrests for drug/narcotic violations and 309 arrests for drug equipment violations.

The most commonly arrested-for substances were amphetamines and methamphetamines with 6,372 arrests, followed by methamphetamines specifically with 2,545 arrests and marijuana with 911 arrests. Cocaine arrests numbered 79, while other narcotics accounted for 454 arrests. The predominant criminal activity was possessing or concealing drugs with 1,350 arrests, followed by using or consuming with 1,239 arrests and distributing or selling with 1,062 arrests. The high clearance rates for drug offenses reflect proactive enforcement efforts, though experts note that arrest-focused strategies alone cannot address the underlying public health dimensions of substance use disorders requiring comprehensive treatment and prevention programs.

Bias-Motivated Hate Crimes in Minnesota 2024

Bias-motivated crimes target victims based on their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or other protected characteristics. These crimes have profound impacts on entire communities beyond individual victims.

Data Source: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension – 2024 Uniform Crime Report

Minnesota reported 225 bias-motivated incidents in 2024, affecting 250 victims and involving 282 identified offenders. Race, ethnicity, and ancestry bias motivated the largest share with 133 incidents, predominantly anti-Black or African American bias accounting for 84 incidents. Anti-Hispanic or Latino bias generated 18 incidents, while anti-White bias accounted for 6 incidents and anti-Asian bias produced 4 incidents. These racial bias crimes reflect ongoing tensions and prejudices that law enforcement and community organizations work to address through education, prevention, and vigorous prosecution.

Sexual orientation bias motivated 65 incidents, with anti-gay bias accounting for 36 incidents and anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender mixed bias producing 26 incidents. Religious bias drove 46 incidents, predominantly anti-Jewish bias with 28 incidents and anti-Islamic (Muslim) bias with 11 incidents. Gender identity bias resulted in 8 anti-transgender incidents, while disability bias generated 4 incidents targeting individuals with physical or mental disabilities. The most common offense types were destruction, damage, or vandalism of property with 66 incidents, intimidation with 60 incidents, and simple assault with 51 incidents. Verbal abuse was the most frequent bias act with 57 incidents, followed by additional verbal abuse with 57 more incidents and graffiti accounting for 52 incidents. Most bias crimes occurred at residences or homes (82 incidents) or on highways, roads, alleys, streets, and sidewalks (46 incidents).

Law Enforcement Use of Force in Minnesota 2024

Use-of-force incidents involving law enforcement officers receive intense scrutiny and must be reported under Minnesota law. These incidents include fatalities, serious injuries, and firearm discharges directed at individuals.

Data Source: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension – 2024 Uniform Crime Report

Law enforcement agencies reported 32 use-of-force incidents in 2024 that met FBI reporting criteria, including 12 incidents resulting in subject death, 15 incidents causing serious bodily injury, and 5 firearm discharge incidents without death or serious injury. Separately, agencies reported 33 firearms discharge incidents involving 259 total shots fired, with 27 incidents occurring in the course of duty and 6 accidental discharges. These incidents resulted in 11 individuals killed, 11 individuals wounded, and 5 individuals with other or no injuries from gunshot wounds.

The primary reasons for initial law enforcement contact were response to unlawful or suspicious activity (24 incidents), medical, mental health, or welfare assistance (5 incidents), and warrant service (3 incidents). Subject resistance was indicated in the majority of cases, with 24 subjects failing to comply with commands, 23 displaying weapons, 10 using firearms against officers, and 8 attempting to escape or flee. Subject impairment was noted in 26 cases, including 11 involving alcohol, 9 involving drugs, and 6 involving mental health crises. Subject armed status showed 30 subjects were armed while only 2 were unarmed when force was applied.

Officer Safety and Assaults in Minnesota 2024

Law enforcement officers face physical dangers while performing their duties. Minnesota tracks assaults against officers to understand risks and improve officer safety protocols.

Data Source: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension – 2024 Uniform Crime Report

Minnesota law enforcement officers were assaulted 976 times in 2024, affecting 1,241 officers across these incidents. Aggravated assaults against officers totaled 368, while simple assaults numbered 793, and intimidation incidents reached 77. Tragically, three law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty in 2024. Of the officers assaulted, 752 sustained injuries, with 660 suffering apparent minor injuries, 80 experiencing no injury, and smaller numbers sustaining more serious injuries including 42 other major injuries, 22 apparent broken bones, 17 possible internal injuries, and 7 severe lacerations.

The most common circumstances leading to officer assaults were responding to disturbance calls (387 incidents), attempting other arrests (262 incidents), and handling, transporting, or maintaining custody of prisoners (194 incidents). Personal weapons (hands, fists, feet) were used against officers in 809 assaults, while 98 incidents involved no weapon, 82 had unknown weapon types, and 69 used other weapons. Handguns were used in 46 assaults, motor vehicles or vessels in 41 assaults, and knives or cutting instruments in 37 assaults. Officer assignment types during assaults included 660 in one-officer vehicles with assistance, 489 in one-officer vehicles alone, and 457 in other assisted roles. These statistics underscore the daily risks officers face and inform training, equipment, and tactical decisions aimed at keeping officers safe while they protect communities.

Regional Crime Distribution in Minnesota 2024

Crime patterns vary significantly across Minnesota’s ten judicial districts, reflecting differences in population density, economic conditions, and urban versus rural characteristics.

Data Source: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension – 2024 Uniform Crime Report

District 4 (Hennepin County, including Minneapolis) experienced the highest crime burden with a violent crime rate of 542 per 100,000 and 6,875 violent crimes, along with a property crime rate of 3,092 per 100,000 and 39,187 property crimes. This district represents the state’s largest urban center and accounts for a disproportionate share of total crime. District 2 (Ramsey County, including St. Paul) followed with a violent crime rate of 468 per 100,000 affecting 2,474 victims and a property crime rate of 2,822 per 100,000 impacting 14,925 victims.

In contrast, rural and less populated districts showed significantly lower crime rates. District 10 (southern Minnesota) had a violent crime rate of only 107 per 100,000 despite recording 1,141 violent crimes due to its larger geographic area and population distribution. District 1 (northwest Minnesota) reported a violent crime rate of 119 per 100,000 with 1,018 crimes and a property crime rate of 1,041 per 100,000 with 8,885 incidents. District 8 (west-central Minnesota) had the lowest absolute numbers with 262 violent crimes and 903 property crimes, though its rates remained comparable to other rural districts. These regional disparities highlight the importance of tailored crime prevention strategies that address the specific challenges facing urban versus rural communities.

Twin Cities Metropolitan Crime in Minnesota 2024

The seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area accounts for the majority of Minnesota’s crime, reflecting its concentration of population and economic activity.

Data Source: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension – 2024 Uniform Crime Report

The Twin Cities metropolitan area accounted for 139 of the state’s 170 homicides (81.8 percent), with Hennepin County alone recording 89 murders—more than half the statewide total. Ramsey County followed with 28 homicides, while Dakota County reported 8, and Anoka County had 9. Metro area counties also dominated rape statistics with 1,330 of the state’s 2,159 rapes (61.6 percent), robbery with 2,632 of 2,836 incidents (92.8 percent), and aggravated assault with 6,931 of 9,826 cases (70.5 percent). Total violent crime in the metro area reached 11,032 incidents, representing 73.6 percent of all statewide violent crime.

Property crime showed similar concentration in the metropolitan area. Hennepin County led with 4,182 burglaries, 26,441 larcenies, 8,206 motor vehicle thefts, and 183 arsons. Ramsey County reported 2,003 burglaries, 11,008 larcenies, 1,896 motor vehicle thefts, and 194 arsons. Combined, metro area counties accounted for 7,649 of the state’s 10,576 burglaries (72.3 percent), 50,440 of 70,898 larcenies (71.1 percent), and 11,081 of 12,596 motor vehicle thefts (88.0 percent). This concentration reflects both population density and the urban characteristics that correlate with higher crime rates, while the 27 percent of violent crime and 28 percent of property crime occurring outside the metro area demonstrates that rural and suburban Minnesota faces significant public safety challenges requiring dedicated resources and attention.

Disclaimer: This research report is compiled from publicly available sources. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is given as to the completeness or reliability of the information. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the use of this report.

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