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 around crime and public safety in the Rochester region. The newspaper has taken a weekend look at the history of 

. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Baier 

took a longer view of the perception and the reality of crime

This reporting will launch the discussion hosted by MPR News' Kate Smith at the Mayo Civic Center at 7 p.m. But we wanted to get an early start online. So sources in the MPR 

 were asked about the facts and fictions of crime in Rochester. And 

Some questioned how the city uses its prosecutorial resources, and whether it's smartly spending public safety dollars. Among them is Karen Duncan, the chief public defender for the southeast region, who said the level of activity in the courts is on the rise, even as overall crime stays flat:

Duncan went on to say that "unless a sufficient number of public defenders are added (funded) to justly handle the 90-percent-plus of the criminal cases within the court system here, the criminal courts will break down and the public perception of danger will increase."

Meanwhile a Rochester City Councilman, Michael Wojcik, questioned the city's spending for public safety.

It seems natural to ask whether Rochester is prosecuting crimes smartly and spending its public safety money wisely. We'll raise those questions at the forum tonight. But you can comment on this right now. Just do so below, or head to 

Minnesota News

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In discussions leading up to a forum on public safety in Rochester, some questioned how the city uses its prosecutorial resources, and whether it’s smartly spending public safety dollars.

Gangs? Misperceptions? Spending? Get a head start on tonight’s Rochester crime forum

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