Overview

Goal: People living in Minnesota or visiting our state will feel safe.

The health of a region is dependent on the safety of its residents and visitors. People must feel secure in their homes and neighborhoods; they must be comfortable going to and from work, participating in recreational activities, and going out at night. Freedom from crime and the fear of crime promotes neighborhood connections, housing stability, an area's business climate and its economic future.

What's happening

  • Mirroring the nation, crime rates are generally lower this decade than they were in the 1990s. Between 2000 and 2010, the serious crime rate declined 19 percent across the state. In 2010, the Southwest and West Central regions were the safest regions in the state.
  • Perceptions of safety are remarkably similar for residents of Greater Minnesota and the Twin Cities metro. In 2009, 88 percent of residents in each region reported feeling safe walking on their own streets after dark.

Making connections

When people have opportunities for education and to participate in the economy, they are much less likely to perpetrate a crime. When people are the victims of crime, they may experience deterioration in their physical and mental health.

Minnesota Compass

Minnesota Compass
www.mncompass.org
Led by Wilder Research

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