Local Court Trends Show Mixed Results in Felony and Misdemeanor Filings

The Dunn County CJCC Quarterly Meeting held on August 21, 2025, focused on the latest trends in local court cases, as presented by the Clerk of Court's office. The meeting began with an overview of case filings, highlighting an upward trend in overall cases entering the court system. The data presented included a breakdown of felony and misdemeanor cases, with the latter remaining relatively steady over the past five years.

The Clerk noted that while felony cases have shown a slight downward trend compared to the 18-year average, misdemeanor cases have experienced a slight increase. Additionally, non-traffic ordinance violations are trending downward overall. This data reflects a broader analysis that included six-year trends and comparisons to historical averages.

Attention was also given to juvenile filings, where trends indicate a decrease in CHIPS (Children in Need of Protection or Services) orders and juvenile delinquency cases, both falling below the six-year and 18-year averages. Conversely, juvenile civil ordinance violations have trended upward. The Clerk emphasized that while these statistics do not directly correlate to crime rates, they suggest that the collective efforts of the community are maintaining a stable environment regarding crime filings.

The meeting concluded with a recognition of the ongoing efforts to address these trends, indicating a commitment to monitoring and responding to the evolving landscape of local judicial cases.