Minnesota Crime Rates Dropped Throughout 2025
Statewide violent crime fell by 9% as significant decreases were recorded in carjackings and murder rates.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Property Crime
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Data from 2025 showed a statewide decline in violent crime across Minnesota, including a drop in murders to 132. The region saw notable improvements as motor vehicle thefts fell by over 22% and larceny reached a 57-year low.
Why it matters
The broad decline in criminal activity follows a period of significant state investment in public safety, which totaled $3.8 billion. This allocation aims to support law enforcement and community programs targeting organized gang activity.
Official state data reports violent crime fell 9% statewide in 2025, while carjackings decreased by 31%. Larceny also hit its lowest level in 57 years, though Minneapolis continued to account for 72% of all state carjackings.
The players
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
This state agency is responsible for gathering and analyzing criminal justice data to meet federal reporting standards.
FBI
The federal agency works alongside local law enforcement to target criminal organizations and gang activity.
The details
While statewide figures showed broad improvement, including a 14% drop in the Twin Cities, Minneapolis remained a focal point for criminal activity, representing nearly half of the state's murders. Authorities from the FBI and local agencies continue to target specific offender groups involved in gang activity to maintain these downward trends.
Timeline
In 2020, the Minneapolis city council voted to defund the police department.
Statewide murders totaled 172 in 2024.
During 2025, statewide crime data was collected for the Uniform Crime Report.
Legal Context
This decline follows patterns observed in the Uniform Crime Report, which tracks multi-year shifts in criminal activity across jurisdictions. The reduction suggests a departure from the trends seen shortly after the 2020 Minneapolis city council vote to defund the police department.
Residents may see changes in safety enforcement strategies as authorities focus resources on the high concentration of crime in Minneapolis. These figures provide a clearer outlook on community safety after years of elevated concern regarding carjackings and violent offenses.
The takeaway
The sharp decline in motor vehicle thefts and violent crime suggests that the $3.8 billion public safety initiative is impacting local crime rates. However, the disproportionate concentration of crime in Minneapolis underscores the continued need for targeted interventions in urban centers.
Further reading
For additional context on regional trends, visit the Property Crime section.
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