Crime Rates Drop Across South Dakota: AG Jackley Credits Multi-Level Cooperation
- Steve Jurrens
- Feb 20
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley released new data showing a significant downward trend in crime rates across the state over the past year. Jackley attributed the improvements to law enforcement interdiction efforts and the proactive involvement of South Dakota’s citizens.
“What this tells us is we live in a safe state in South Dakota to raise a family, our communities are safe, and I think it’s attributable to a couple of different things,” said Jackley. He praised the collaboration between local chiefs and sheriffs, state’s attorneys, and tribal and federal partners in reducing criminal activity.
Significant Decreases in Serious Crime
The most notable improvement was in the "more serious crimes" category, which fell by 7.75%. Key highlights from the report include:
· Homicides: Decreased by 28.12%.
· Burglaries: Dropped by 21%.
· Juvenile Crime: Saw a significant reduction of 14.21%.
· Assaults on Law Enforcement: Fell from 486 to 429.
Minor crimes also declined by 2%. Additionally, DUI cases fell by 3.46%, leading to what Jackley described as “safer roads”.
Border Security and Drug Crimes
The Attorney General specifically highlighted a 6.25% decrease in drug crimes, linking the improvement to broader efforts to secure the nation’s southern border.
“Securing the southern border is having a positive effect on public safety across the nation and here in South Dakota,” Jackley stated.
Areas of Concern
Despite the overall positive report, one area showed a slight increase. Forcible rapes rose by 1.07% in 2025, with 377 reported cases. Jackley noted this as the “most concerning” statistic in the report, despite it not representing a large percentage increase.
Overall, the Attorney General remained optimistic about the state’s trajectory, crediting law-abiding citizens for their willingness to assist law enforcement when crimes do occur.
