2024 North Dakota crime statistics are lower, but not by much

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — Over the last five years, crimes that include burglary, assaults, fraud, kidnapping, and others have consistently totaled nearly 50,000 offenses throughout the state of North Dakota. Attorney General Drew Wrigley shared that he is concerned that this may be the new normal.

“Is this new normal that you hear so much about in the communities?…. The question remains, is this new plateau, are we just going to accept it? Are we just going to just say there’s nothing that we can do about it?”

In 2024, there were 45,964 violent crimes reported by local law enforcement agencies. The one increase in the number of reported arrests was for DUIs.

“DUIs in North Dakota surged up again last year. There were 4,614 DUI arrests in the state of North Dakota… From 2021, it went up over four percent, went up almost three percent, and this year, almost seven percent.”

Wrigley clarifies that while many people have misconceptualized many crimes to be associated with the use of drugs or alcohol, that is not always the case. According to the crime statistics, the majority of offenses, including simple assaults, vandalism, burglary, and other crimes, the overall total is vastly different.

“The statistics show you the vast majority are committing them because they have a reason to assault that person. To kill that person, to rape that person, to burglarize that house, to steal that car, what have you. That’s important to keep in mind.”

Wrigley shares he will be working to broaden the statistics to up to ten years of comparison for the future crime statistics. As the current model only goes up to five years.

The Attorney General also noted the next annual crime statistics will be out no later than July 1.