South Dakota

Black Hills Center for Equality provides resources, education, and networking to enhance the lives of diverse groups of people, with special outreach services to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning community (GLBTQ), and their friends and families. The Black Hills Center for Equality advocates for equal access by providing a safe and inclusive environment for all.

Service area: Rapid City and Butte, Custer, Fall River, Harding, Lawrence, Meade, Pennington, Perkins, and Shannon Counties
Work with: GLBTQ community, their friends, and families
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Information; referrals; pen pal services; and support via phone, mail, or email.
Services for survivors after release include: Confidential HIV testing and counseling during office hours and by appointment; referrals to LGBT friendly healthcare, counseling, and local businesses; Living Positive in the Hills, a support group for people living with a life-threatening illness; Two Spirits Society; and RALLY (Respect ALL Youth), a gay straight alliance for youth ages 15-25 that provides support to young people who are in the process of coming out and their allies.
Services for loved ones include: Social service referrals; food pantry; and counseling referrals.
Fees: Free

The Council on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence is a private, non profit organization that is dedicated to helping survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence become empowered in their quest for dignity and self-respect.

Service area: Union County in South Dakota
Work with: Survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence and their loved ones
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Crisis intervention via the 24-hour hotline and by mail; hospital accompaniment and medical advocacy during forensic exams; legal advocacy and court accompaniment; in-person follow-up counseling, where available; information; and referrals.
Services for survivors after release include: All of the above; individual and group counseling for teen and adult survivors of sexual assault; and emergency shelter.
Services for loved ones include: Crisis intervention; counseling; support groups; information; and referrals.
Fees: Free
Additional Information: All services are available in English and Spanish. Se ofrece todos los servicios en español e ingles.

For more than two decades, the Sacred Heart Center has been helping to serve the needs of the people of the Cheyenne River Reservation region, an area the size of the state of Connecticut. The Sacred Heart Center’s Women’s Shelter has provided a safe haven for women and children fleeing from domestic violence since the Center first opened its doors in 1982. The program now provides services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Service area: Primarily the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, but Sacred Heart Center is willing to work with anyone who contacts them for services
Work with: Survivors of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault and their loved ones
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Crisis intervention via the 24-hour hotline and by mail; hospital accompaniment during forensic exams; legal advocacy and court accompaniment in CRST Tribal Courts; in-person advocacy and counseling in tribal jails, by arrangement; information; and referrals.
Services for survivors after release include: All of the above; individual counseling; emergency shelter for women and children; emergency motel placements for adult male survivors, depending on resources; and support groups.
Services for loved ones include: Crisis intervention; emergency shelter; counseling; information; and referrals
Fees: Free
Additional Information: Translation services are available for Lakota speakers.

The South Dakota Coalition Ending Domestic & Sexual Violence (SDCEDSV) is dedicated to the reclamation of the respected, autonomous and safe status of women who have been battered/raped, and their children and therefore is committed to the elimination of personal and societal violence in the lives of women and their children.

Service area: South Dakota
Work with: Referrals only for survivors of sexual assault and their family – no restriction on who calls.
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Referrals only – we do not provide direct services.
Services for survivors after release include: Referrals only.
Services for loved ones include: Referrals only.
Fees: Free

The Compass Center (formerly Rape and Domestic Abuse Center) is a non-profit organization that offers many programs to help individuals with rape and domestic abuse issues. Programs include Survivor Empowerment, rape crisis, Family Violence Project, Children’s Play Therapy, and Court Watchers.

Service area: Sioux Falls.
Work with: Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, incest, and stalking and their loved ones.
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Crisis intervention via the 24-hour hotline and by mail; hospital accompaniment during forensic exams; legal advocacy and court accompaniment; information; and referrals.
Services for survivors after release include: All of the above and individual, group, and family counseling.
Services for loved ones include: Crisis intervention; counseling; information; and referrals.
Fees: Free.
Additional Information: The Compass Center also offers services for individuals who have used violence against a partner or family member. The Family Violence Project is a 25-week program based on the Duluth Model of treatment. The program is designed to assist participants to identify their abusive thoughts, beliefs and actions and to learn respectful, non-violent alternatives. Services include: assessments and orientation sessions; weekly groups that are therapeutic and educational; and help in exploration of nonviolence and relationship equality through educational topics.

White Buffalo Calf Woman Society was the first shelter for women of the color in the United States and has been providing safe homes and support for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault since 1980.

Service area: Rosebud Reservation
Work with: Survivors of domestic and sexual violence and their loved ones
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Crisis intervention via the 24-hour hotline and by mail; hospital accompaniment during forensic exams; legal advocacy and court accompaniment; information; and referrals. In-person counseling in the local jail may also be available, by arrangement.
Services for survivors after release include: All of the above; individual crisis counseling; support groups for sexual assault survivors and incest survivors; long-term therapy; a women’s camp, which is a traditional weekend-long retreat for sexual assault survivors; and referrals for therapy and other needed services.
Services for loved ones include: Crisis intervention; counseling; information; and referrals. Loved ones are always welcome to attend support groups, as well.
Fees: Free
Additional Information: Services are also available in the Lakota language.

Working Against Violence, Inc. (WAVI) works to create a community free of domestic abuse and sexual assault through advocacy, education, and support services.

Service area: Western South Dakota and parts of Nebraska and Wyoming
Work with: Survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault
Services for survivors during incarceration include: Crisis intervention via the hotline and by mail; hospital accompaniment during forensic exams; information; and referrals.
Services for survivors after release include: All of the above; case management; individual advocacy; referrals for counseling; and support groups, depending on availability.
Services for loved ones include: Crisis intervention during hospital accompaniments and via the hotline; information; and referrals for ongoing services.
Fees: Free

The American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota continues the work of the ACLU of the Dakotas, which was formed in 1971 as a Chapter of the National ACLU. The chapter split into two entities, representing the two discrete states, in 2008.

The ACLU of South Dakota seeks to defend and advance the constitutionally protected rights of all people living in the state. The ACLU of South Dakota especially works with those groups who have not had their full constitutional protections granted to them, such as racial minorities, LGBT people, and other groups who have not yet realized their full rights under the Bill of Rights.

The ACLU of South Dakota accepts individual complaints regarding violations of civil rights and liberties. In order to file a complaint, download the form at the link above, fill it out, and mail it in to the office at the address above. You can also write directly to the ACLU to request a copy of the intake form. Please be advised that it might take up to six weeks before you hear whether or not the ACLU of South Dakota can accept your case.

The ACLU of South Dakota cannot follow through on many individual complaints because of funding limitations. Approximately 99% of complaints are not granted ACLU help and assistance.