PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced Thursday that the total number of reported criminal offenses across the state decreased by 6.03 percent in 2025 compared to the previous year.
The annual Crime in South Dakota report, which provides a statistical snapshot for communities including Rapid City, indicated there were 64,261 criminal offenses in 2025. This is a decline from the 68,388 offenses documented in 2024.
“The decrease of crime in South Dakota demonstrates South Dakota remains a safe place to raise a family and how important securing our southern border has been to public safety,” Jackley said. “The partnership at all levels between law enforcement and prosecutors remains strong in our state.”
Serious crimes, categorized as Group A offenses, saw a 7.78 percent decrease. These crimes, which include homicides, sex offenses, and aggravated assaults, totaled 43,715 in 2025. Group B offenses, which include less serious crimes such as DUIs and disorderly conduct, dropped by 2.09 percent to a total of 20,546.
Specific data points from the report showed a significant reduction in several categories. Homicides fell from 32 in 2024 to 23 in 2025. Burglaries saw a notable decline to 1,412 from 1,787. Additionally, juvenile arrests dropped from 3,787 to 3,249.
Drug-related offenses statewide decreased by 6.25 percent. Methamphetamine-specific offenses fell to 2,672 from 3,136. Fentanyl offenses, tracked within the other narcotics category, were reported at 230, down from 398 in 2024. DUI arrests also saw a slight dip to 5,356.
The safety of law enforcement was also noted in the findings. While 429 South Dakota officers were assaulted in 2025, that number was down from 486 in 2024. No officers were killed in the line of duty during the reporting period.
The report is compiled by the Attorney General’s Criminal Statistical Analysis Center using data from law enforcement agencies across the state. These figures do not include statistics from South Dakota Tribes, which report crime data directly to the FBI.
