The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says 422 people across the state have reported being raped so far this year, with children under 18 making up the single largest age group. The agency shared the numbers on its social media feed Wednesday, pairing the tally with direct, plain-language guidance for survivors and caregivers. The figures land as state officials continue to expand testing capacity and resources for victims.
BCA breakdown: ages and counts
According to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the 422 reports break down like this: 142 victims were under 18, 99 were 18-24, 77 were 25-34, 73 were 35-49, 25 were 50 or older and six were listed as unknown. The agency also noted that the most common offender identified in those reports is a family member or an acquaintance.
Taken together, those counts suggest that many of the assaults are happening inside homes or within ongoing relationships, not in the stereotypical stranger-in-a-dark-alley scenario.
Help, reporting and kit tracking
The BCA used its post to urge victims to report assaults to law enforcement and to track the status of any sexual-assault evidence kit through the state's Track-Kit portal. Minnesota's Department of Public Safety maintains a crime-victim resources page with 24-hour hotlines and local directories, and the BCA has detailed the Track-Kit rollout and testing improvements in a news release.
For contact numbers and step-by-step instructions, state officials point survivors and families to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and the related Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension update on sexual-assault kit testing and Track-Kit.
Pattern mirrors national research
The BCA's finding that most offenders are known to victims lines up with national research showing a similar pattern: many sexual assaults are committed by someone the survivor already knows. RAINN reports that roughly eight in 10 sexual-assault cases involve an offender known to the victim, which helps explain why the BCA stressed trusted adults, confidential reporting and advocacy services in its outreach; see RAINN for more context.
If you or a young person you care for has been harmed, crisis lines listed by the state are available 24/7. Minnesota's Day One crisis line at 866-223-1111 is included on the state victim resources page from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, and can connect callers to local services. Survivors can also use Track-Kit to anonymously check the status of an evidence kit and locate local advocacy groups for help.
