It appears that Minneapolis could end up seeing fewer arrests this year than it has in quite some time.
Some statistics recently came out regarding arrests in the city going from the start of the year up to March 20. The statistics are based on arrest information sent to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
According to the data, as compared to where arrest levels were at by March 20 in 2016, arrests are down almost 9 percent in the city this year. This reflects a general trend of decreased arrests that the city has seen since around the turn of the millennium.
If arrests in Minneapolis hold their current pace through the rest of the year, 2017 will have the lowest arrest total the city has had since at least 2000.
According to the data, the drop in arrests in 2017 is particularly big in the downtown area and in arrests for crimes classified as being lower-level offenses. DWI is among the crimes that fall under this classification.
There is a lot of debate out there about what exactly is behind the decrease. What sorts of things do you think are causing the decrease?
One wonders what the rest of 2017 will end up seeing when it comes to arrest levels in Minneapolis. One also wonders if the trend of falling arrests is primarily a Minneapolis one, or if other parts of the metro area are seeing similar trends.
When a person is arrested, whether it is on allegations of “major” or “minor” offenses, they can be dealing with a situation that has the potential to have major impacts on their life. Facing any sort of criminal charges can have significant potential consequences. The actions and decisions a person takes/makes in a criminal case, from its start to its finish, can impact how big of an affect their case ends up having on their future. So, whatever the nature of the allegations against them, when a person is arrested in Minneapolis or other parts of the metro area, they may want to promptly contact a skilled defense lawyer for guidance on how to proceed and how to navigate their situation.
Source: Star Tribune, “Minneapolis police on track to make fewest arrests since 2000,” Libor Jany, April 4, 2017
