BROOKINGS – You never thought it would happen to you. You’re the victim of a crime.
It may be a drunk driver, an arsonist targeting your home, a robbery, a domestic situation, a rape. You’re traumatized, scared, angry – but also confused.
You don’t know what you can do, what your options are. You don’t know that you have rights and places to go for help.
One of those places to go is the legal system, said Abigail Howard and Susie Rennich, both of the Brookings County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Another is the Brookings Domestic Abuse Shelter, which is an organization dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking, said Sara Taecker, associate director.
All say crime numbers in the Brookings area have gone up, and they want victims to be empowered and feel safe as they go through the process of taking their lives back, especially during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
You have rights
South Dakota recognizes 19 stated rights, currently listed under Marsy’s Law.
The victim has a right to be notified at every stage of criminal proceedings, including when the suspect is arrested, every time a court appearance comes up, and if the accused is released or escapes from custody. They also have the right to be treated with dignity and be protected from the suspect, to confer with an attorney, to get back their property and to receive restitution, among others.
South Dakota had the Crime Victims’ Rights Act, which listed the rights of victims of violent crime, said Howard, Brookings County State’s Attorney. When Marsy’s Law passed last fall, it “didn’t change the rights of victims, it expanded what it means to be a victim,” she said.
Marsy’s Law defines a victim as anyone who “suffers a financial, psychological or physical harm of any crime or someone that would be connected to that person or have a familial relationship that also felt like they suffered,” Howard said.
Often, victims find out about these rights when they are handed a Marsy’s Card by police officers after an incident, Howard said. Some might find out when they call or visit the shelter seeking information or help, Taecker said.
You can get help
The State’s Attorney’s office has a network of local organizations like the Eastern Plains Sexual Assault Response Team and the Brookings Domestic Abuse Shelter to get victims what they need.
“Domestic violence is a pattern of coercive behaviors. It can be just verbal, emotional, psychological or also physical. A lot of the time, what we see is it might start with the verbal and emotional abuse and lead to physical violence, but some people don’t ever experience the physical aspect of it,” Taecker said.
“What causes (domestic violence) is a need for power and control ... But we often also see sexual assault and stalking within intimate partner relationships,” Taecker said, adding they work with women and men, and work with other agencies, like schools and Child’s Voice, to help juveniles.
The shelter truly is a place where women and children can stay. (Men would be sheltered offsite, she said.)
Taecker wants people who need help to feel free to call the 24-hour emergency crisis hotline at 692-7233 (SAFE) or come to the shelter at 807 Onaka Trail, letting it be known they have a lot of security, including 24-hour staff, lights and security system.
“We don’t want to hide from victims; we want people to know they can come here,” Taecker said.
She also does community presentations to groups that want to learn more about domestic violence, the shelter or what they can do to help.
Howard’s office handles all kinds of crime, from burglary/robbery to arson to domestic violence and other personal crimes.
“There are just different needs, and we try to work with each one individually,” Howard said.
Both Howard and Taecker said they work with various organizations, like GoodWill and the food pantry, to help victims get what they need, whether that’s fresh clothes after theirs have been taken for evidence or a bus ride out of town.
Making sense of it all can be confusing for people not used to dealing with the justice system, Howard admits, but helping people navigate the system is Rennich’s job as victim witness specialist.
“Susie does an immense amount of work just connecting with them, getting their resources, meeting with them in hopes that will give them enough strength and courage and ability to be able to do what’s right in their situation,” Howard said. “She does a great job of listening to victims. She does everything in her power to address any little issue that arises.”
“I think for them to just be able to talk and tell their story just means a lot to them, really empowers them,” Rennich said.
“When I initially make contact with the victim, I usually explain the charge (and related issues). Then try to empower them and listen to their voice and assess what resources they do need,” Rennich said.
She can help them sign up for notifications through SAVIN, the Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification system. She connects them with counselors, the food pantry, or making arrangements for their children, among other things.
But Rennich’s main job is to be a hand to hold.
“Just being with them in court, being able to sit with them, maybe explain the court process of what’s happening,” Rennich said.
Marsy’s Law has increased the volume of work her office has to do, Howard said, “but what’s been really nice and helpful is having Susie available to sit in court with the victims ... It’s very helpful to have Susie there to answer their questions.”
Call any time
Not all cases wind up in court, but Rennich and Taecker can still talk to victims and help them understand their rights and that it’s their safety that’s important, especially with victims of domestic violence.
“Our main goal is to help them and stop the cycle,” Rennich said.
“What we want the community to really see ... is it is a crime,” Taecker said. “Domestic violence at one time was not a crime. It was something that was a private family issue, so we really, really feel that’s an important thing to drive home is that they are crime victims.
“No victim deserves the assaults that are inflicted upon them,” Howard said. “I think it’s really common for victims to self-blame and try to convince themselves that they deserve what’s happened to them.
“It’s a challenge to convince them that’s not a healthy relationship and no one deserves to be injured in a relationship ... nothing warrants being abused and (we want to give) them that strength to come forward and tell their story and hold that offender accountable,” Howard said.
For more information contact the State’s Attorney’s office at 692-8606 or e-mail Rennich at srennich@brookingscountysd.gov or contact the Brookings Domestic Abuse Shelter at 692-7233 (SAFE).
Contact Jodelle Greiner at jgreiner@brookingsregister.com.
