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The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) within the MN Department of Public Safety has been working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to encourage and assist MN law enforcement agenices to better track and record crimes against animals.

In 2016, the FBI began categorizing and tracking certain crimes against animals through the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). Prior to doing so, animal cruelty crimes were lumped into an "All Other Offenses" category along with other non-animal crimes, which made tracking these crimes difficult.

Criminal activity was expanded by the FBI to include the four categories below, which will be used in Minnesota:

• Simple or gross neglect
• Intentional abuse and torture
• Organized abuse (e.g., animal fighting)
• Animal sexual abuse

To date (April 2018), the Minnesota BCA has transitioned 58 reporting agencies to NIBRS. Since most agencies transitioned in late 2017, a full year's worth of data is not yet available with the exception of Carver County, which reported one animal cruelty case for 2017. The BCA is continuing to transition the remaining reporting agencies over to the new NIBRS reporting system and anticipates having all Minnesota agencies transitioned by January 1, 2021.

Animal Folks has also been tracking animal cruelty cases with a focus on those cases that result in a conviction. We have identified more than 1,000 animal cruelty convictions statewide between 2008 and 2016. This ongoing project aids in our efforts to work with law enforcement and prosecutors to improve how animal protection laws in Minnesota are enforced.

Image below shows what states are transitioning to NIBRS and status of each. This data is evolving fast. There may be further changes to 2017 data displayed.

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