Crime in Minnesota encompasses a wide range of unlawful activities that occur within the state, regulated by both state and federal laws.[1][2] While crime rates in Minnesota are generally below the national average, certain areas and types of crime have garnered public attention.[3]
The historical development of crime in Minnesota has been influenced by factors including immigration patterns, economic fluctuations, and social changes. During the early 20th century, organized crime, primarily related to prohibition, was a notable issue. Over the decades, the types and rates of crime have evolved.
The Gangster Era
During the Great Depression, Minnesota gained notoriety as a haven for gangsters.[4][5] Among the most infamous were Ma Barker and her son Fred Barker, along with Alvin Karpis, who were part of the Barker-Karpis gang. They were responsible for a series of robberies, kidnappings, and murders.[6] In 1933, they kidnapped William Hamm, a millionaire brewer, and secured a ransom for his release.[7]
One of the most high-profile cases was the kidnapping and murder of 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling in 1989. Wetterling's disappearance remained unsolved for nearly 27 years, with his remains finally discovered in 2016. The case had a profound impact on Minnesota and the entire nation, leading to the establishment of the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act, requiring states to implement a sex offender and crimes against children registry.
Feeding Our Future was a Minnesota nonprofit founded in 2016. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it claimed to distribute many thousands of meals to schoolchildren, but instead stole hundreds of millions of dollars while providing few or no meals at most of its locations. Merrick Garland, attorney general during the Biden administration, called it the country’s largest pandemic relief fraud scheme.[8][9]
Although the state agency responsible for monitoring the school meal program repeatedly tried to cut off funds, the organization was not shut down until FBI raids and federal indictments in 2022. As of late 2025, out of 78 suspects indicted in the fraud, more than 50 had pled guilty. Another seven individuals were found guilty at trial, including the leader of the scheme, Aimee Bock, while many others awaited trial.[10][11]
Most, though not all, of those charged and convicted in the case were members of Minnesota's Somali American community, whether first-generation immigrants or native-born. Aimee Bock, the leader of Feeding our Future and a white woman, accused state agencies of discrimination against the Somali community in the months before charges were filed.[12][13][14] The case led to internal debate and discussion in the Minnesota Somali American community and broader political arena.[15] Several years after the first charges were brought, the Feeding Our Future case was cited by President Donald Trump as a reason to cut off temporary protected status for some Somali refugees in Minnesota.[15]
Amidst ongoing investigation into the Feeding Our Future case, potential fraud was identified and investigated in a number of other state-run social services schemes, including emergency housing, autism therapy for children, home health assistance, and Medicaid. By late 2025, Minnesota had shut down its housing stabilization system and paused payments in 14 Medicaid programs, including autism therapy and others, while launching an audit.[16] The state drew media attention for the set of fraud scandals, with U.S. AttorneyJoe Thompson writing that the state had become "a national poster child for public corruption".[17][18]
Timeline of incidents
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Violent crime and prison incarceration rate per 100,000 population from 1960 to 2014
According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, Minnesota's crime rates have generally remained below the national average. However, fluctuations occur year-to-year, and some cities, such as Minneapolis and St. Paul, experience higher crime rates compared to other parts of the state.
In 1990, Minnesota reported a violent crime rate of 291 incidents per 100,000 residents. By 1994, this number peaked at 356 before stabilizing somewhat in the 2000s. However, the rate surged again to 311 by 2021.
Property crime in Minnesota has shown a more consistent trend of reduction. In 1990, the state had a property crime rate of 4,265 per 100,000 residents, which decreased to 2,078 by 2021. This decline is in line with national trends.
Crime rates in Minneapolis
As of 2023, the overall crime rate in Minneapolis, the state's largest city, stands at approximately 5,713 crimes per 100,000 residents. This rate is approximately 138% higher than the state average and 143% higher than the national average.[19] While this number represents a decrease from the peak reached in 2021,[20] it still paints a picture of Minneapolis as a city with significantly higher crime rates than the average American city.[21][22][23]
A burning building after a night of rioting in Minneapolis in 2020
Violent crime statistics present a particularly concerning aspect of the city's crime landscape.[24] Minneapolis's violent crime rate of 1,155 crimes per 100,000 residents is more than three times higher than the state average and nearly twice the national average.[25] From 2008 to 2023, there were a total of 73,702 violent crime reported. This included 783 homicides, 7,376 rapes, 27,841 robberies, 37,702 aggravated assaults, and 12,900 domestic assaults. The homicide rate, while fluctuating year to year, remains persistently higher than the national average, increasing significantly in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd.[26][27]
While black Americans make up 18 percent of Minneapolis' population, they were 77 percent of the city's homicide victims in 2022.[19] Similarly, in 2020, 61 percent of the victims (107 out of 175 victims of whom the race of the victim is known) were African-American (the same report states African-Americans make up less than 10 percent of Minnesota’s total population). During the same year, there were 189 perpetrators of murder for whom a race was identified. Of that total, 66 percent of offenders (125) were identified as being African-American.[28]
In 2023, there were a total of 72 homicides, 303 carjackings, and 413 gunshot wound victims.[22][23]
Property crime accounts for roughly 80% of all reported offenses in Minneapolis. This includes burglaries, thefts, and motor vehicle thefts. Similar to violent crime, Minneapolis's property crime rate exceeds both the state and national averages. In 2023, there were 7,868 reported motor vehicle thefts reported, up significantly from the previous 3 year average.[22][23]
From 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2024, Minneapolis Police made a total of 169,187 stops. About 14% resulted in a citation and 9.5% resulted in a vehicle check. 38.6% of those checked were African American, 25.4% were white, 5.8% were East African, 4.8% were Latino, 3.2% were Native American, 1.4% Asian, 3.3% other, and 15.6% of stops did not report race.[29]
Violent crimes include offenses like homicide, assault, and robbery. Violent crimes have shown an increase in recent years. Aggravated assaults surged from 7,131 cases in 2009 to 10,967 in 2021. Murders also increased, albeit at a smaller volume, from 69 in 2009 to 201 in 2021.[19]
Property crimes
Property crimes such as burglary, theft, and motor vehicle theft are more prevalent but generally less reported. Property crimes like burglary and larceny have mostly declined. Burglaries dropped from 25,165 in 2009 to 14,429 in 2021. Larcenies decreased from 103,695 in 2009 to 88,644 in 2021. However, motor vehicle theft has seen an increase, climbing from 8,379 cases in 2009 to 14,829 in 2021.[19]
Law enforcement in Minnesota is a collaborative effort between local police departments, county sheriff's offices, and state agencies like the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). The state also collaborates with federal agencies, such as the FBI and DEA, for more complex investigations.
Minnesota's prison system is managed by the Minnesota Department of Corrections, overseeing several facilities across the state. In recent years, there has been a focus on reducing recidivism rates through various rehabilitative programs.[31]
Prison population
As of June2023,[update] the adult prison population in Minnesota stands at 8,274 individuals, the majority of whom are male (92.7%).[32][33] The racial composition is diverse, with concentrations of White (50.6%), Black (37.2%), and Native American (9.2%) inmates. When it comes to offenses, the top categories are homicide, criminal sexual conduct, and drug-related crimes, comprising a significant portion of the incarcerated population. Specifically, homicide accounts for 19.2% and criminal sexual conduct for 18.8%. The average age of inmates is approximately 39.6 years, with a significant number (1,526) aged 50 or older.[33]
In terms of educational background, the majority have a high school diploma (67.2%), and most are single (71.0%) by marital status. A plurality identify as Christians (44.2%).[33] During the fiscal year 2023, the prison system admitted 4,871 new individuals. Most admissions were new commitments (68.6%), followed by individuals returning without a new sentence (24.6%). Releases were mostly into supervised release or parole programs, constituting 78.4% of all releases. Among the facilities, Faribault and Stillwater are the largest, housing 23.6% and 14.3% of the population, respectively. [33]
Crime prevention programs
Several crime prevention programs exist within Minnesota, targeting various aspects of criminal activity. Initiatives like neighborhood watch programs, educational campaigns, and drug treatment programs are aimed at reducing both violent and non-violent crimes.[34]
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