Serious youth crime in Ramsey County is on the way down.
That is thanks in part to a new approach to handling cases called "Imagining Justice for Youth," and it focuses on community-based programs, restorative justice, and addressing root causes of crime rather than relying solely on traditional detention.
"For too long, traditional systems have responded to youth behavior, particularly Black and brown youth, with exclusion, punishment, and isolation," explained Tamara Madison with Generation to Generation.
According to a newly released report from the University of Minnesota Medical School, the initiatve is reducing repeat offenses by shifting some cases out of court and into community-based programs instead.
"Restorative circles are not simply a program strategy," Madison adds. "They are a justice strategy rooted in dignity, accountability, and healing. Through Ramsey County's 'Reimagining Justice Initiative,' restorative circles create structured spaces where young people are seen, heard, and valued rather than labeled or discarded."
Now, juvenile crimes rates have dropped nearly 30% in the last two years.
"This is actually the new path forward, and it's really simple," Ramsey County Attorney John Choi adds. "It's relying on our community to help us solve those problems. It's relying on families to help solve those problems. Because I think the solutions are there, are found there, and not necessarily in processing a legal case."
Choi says the study found that between July 2021 and December 2024, youth committing their first assault case that was resolved through community accountability had a 66% lower risk of re-offending compared to similar youth processed in traditional court.