Crime in Minnesota

During the Great Depression, Minnesota gained notoriety as a haven for gangsters. 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. In 1933, they kidnapped William Hamm, a millionaire brewer, and secured a ransom for his release.

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.

In recent years, the Minneapolis Police Department has been at the center of national attention for instances of police brutality, most notably the killing of George Floyd in 2020. The incident sparked nationwide protests and led to an ongoing debate on police reform. The event prompted the Minneapolis City Council to consider dismantling the police department, a move that voters rejected in 2021.

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.

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.

As of June 2023, the adult prison population in Minnesota stands at 8,274 individuals, the majority of whom are male (92.7%).[3][4] 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.[4]

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%).[4] 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. [4]