Crime Rate Declines in Minnesota

The 2018 Minnesota crime report shows a decline in violent crimes across the state, but an increase in motor vehicle thefts, rapes, and human trafficking. Imprisonment rates overall ranked fifth-lowest in the country.

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Crime Rates Drop in Minnesota

The national crime report shows Minnesota in the bottom 10 states for violent crimes including homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, rape, and human trafficking. Overall, violent crimes across the state dropped by 6.7% in 2018.

Every year, law enforcement officials release statewide crime data for all types of crimes to the FBI. Data is reported in The Uniform Crime Report for all 50 states. In 2018, data showed a significant decline in Minnesota crime rates. Violent crimes were down by almost 7%, while property crimes fell by 9%. There was also a major decline in robberies, burglaries, and larceny cases, while arson crimes dropped to their lowest rate since the state began tracking them.

Across the board, most Minnesota crimes were down in 2018. There were a few exceptions, however:

  • Motor vehicle thefts rose for the third year in a row. There were 1,706 auto thefts that resulted in arrests, mostly of Minnesota juveniles.
  • Rapes increased by about 9.3% with 2,656 reports. This is the highest number in 24 years.
  • Human trafficking cases were up 5.8% with 183 incidents reported.

According to the FBI, violent crimes and property crimes nationwide have continued to drop over the last 16 years. FBI 2017 statistics show an estimated 383 violent crimes including murders, assaults, robberies, and rapes for every 100,000 Americans. Homicides and non-negligent manslaughter cases accounted for 17,284 violent crimes nationwide. Across the country, the national murder rate was 5.3%, while the murder rate in Minnesota was only 2% for every 100,000 residents.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety says that state homicide rates have fluctuated up and down over the last five years. In 2017, homicide rates jumped by 16% over 2016 rates. In 2018, homicide rates dropped significantly. Law enforcement officials say murder rates are difficult to predict from year to year because they depend on the type of weapons used, drugs and/or alcohol use, and response time by police and emergency medical responders. Some violent crimes such as robbery, rape, and arson do not involve the use of lethal weapons, so crimes don’t escalate to murder.

Minnesota has harsh penalties for criminal offenses, especially violent crimes that involve lethal weapons.

Max Keller has won countless jury trial cases involving misdemeanors and felonies, sex crimes, and DWI’s. He is a member of the Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice, which only allows the top 50 criminal defense attorneys in the state as members. Max is a frequent speaker at CLE’s and is often asked for advice by other defense attorneys across Minnesota.

Years of Experience: Approx. 20 years
Minnesota Registration Status: Active
Bar & Court Admissions: State of Minnesota Minnesota State Court Minnesota Federal Court 8th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals State of Maryland

What to Do If You Have Been Charged with a Criminal Offense

The Surprising Cost of a Guilty Criminal Plea in Minnesota

Defendants in Minnesota may plead guilty or accept deals without understanding the hidden cost of a guilty criminal plea. A guilty criminal plea, regardless of how appealing it appears, can leave you dealing with substantial lifelong consequences. You may skip lengthy trial proceedings and likely get a lenient sentence, but end up with a criminal record. The record can lead to various financial and collateral consequences, including difficulty in securing employment, loss of housing rights, license revocation, and immigration issues.

What You Can Expect at a Pre-Trial Motions Hearing in Minnesota

The pre-trial motions hearing is a court session you attend after your first arraignment. At the hearing, the prosecution and defense appear before a judge to clear several details about the case before trial. These details include pre-trial motions, evidentiary queries, and constitutional matters.

Refusing Arrest vs. Resisting Arrest in Minnesota: What’s the Difference?

Highly publicized incidents of police using excessive force over the past few years have led to people wondering, “What’s the difference between refusing arrest vs. resisting arrest?” Resisting arrest in Minnesota occurs when you use force to prevent a police officer from making a lawful arrest. Refusing an arrest, on the other hand, involves statements or actions that show reluctance to cooperate with an officer’s instructions without using force.