Crime, Law and Justice

Reports of violent crime were down across Twin Cities, Minnesota in 2023

Police vehicles park at a crime scene.
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agents and staff worked the scene of a shooting by St. Paul police at Hudson Road and Earl Street the evening of Dec. 5, 2022.
Tim Nelson | MPR News

The overall number of reported violent crimes in Minnesota last year was lower than the previous year. That’s according to the latest data released Friday by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. 

The seven-county metro area experienced an 8.2 percent decrease in violent crime including murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault. Greater Minnesota saw a 3.4 percent drop in violence compared to 2022.

Carjackings declined by nearly 38 percent.

The BCA said 180 bias crimes were reported in 2023. That’s 12 more incidents than were reported in the previous year. And there was a slight rise in the number of law enforcement officers who were assaulted. 

The latest data for the city of Minneapolis shows that as of Thursday, there have been 41 homicides in the city this year. There were also 41 homicides over the same time period in 2023. The number of shots fired calls is lower, as well as the number of people who’ve suffered gunshot wounds.