The Canton Police Department, along with other local and national law enforcement agencies, strive to protect and keep victims safe of domestic violence. 

It is the sworn duty of law enforcement to be called upon to protect victims and take all appropriate action against abusers

Scroll to the bottom of this page for a full listing of available shelters and service programs in South Dakota

Full Faith and Credit

This Federal law directs all jurisdictions to give Full Faith and Credit to all protection orders issued by other jurisdictions.  For Victims, this means protection against abusers nationwide.  For Abusers, this means they are bound by the terms and conditions of the protection order wherever they are. 

Why is this law important?

When victims of domestic violence move away to escape the violence, it maintains the integrity and validity of the protection order against their abuser. 

Protection Orders

Definition: any injunction or other order issued for the purpose of preventing violent or threatening acts or harassment against, or contact or communication with, or physical proximity to, another person

South Dakota Law provides that all victims of domestic violence and sexual assault crimes have the right to be protected from intimidation. 

Obtaining a protection order is essential to providing safety to the victim and demonstrates that the abuser is being held accountable.

Abusers

Abusers, also known as batterers, are of all genders, ages, religions and backgrounds.  Statistics show men are primarily the batterers and women are commonly the victims.  Alcohol and other drug abuse has shown to be a strong contributing factor in at least 50% of reported family violence cases.

Common Behaviors of Men who Batter

• They minimize the effect their violence has on their partner and often deny having a problem
• They are only violent with their partner
• They have low self-esteem
• They often blame other for their actions.  Example: "I am under stress", "I was drunk", "She provoked me"
• They are extremely jealous (often suspicious of her possible relationships with others).
• They will isolate their victim from family, friends and support.
• They often hold very traditional views of sex roles- Men: Strong, in charge Women: Weak and submissive
• They were likely abused as a child or their mother was abused by their father
• They have a low tolerance for stress
• They often make unrealistic demands of their partners
• They may appear depressed
• They may also appear charming and caring to those outside the home
• Studies have shown that most batterers are not mentally ill; their behaviors are sick but they are not. 

It is important to know that male violence is a learned behavior and this behavior can be modified and changed

Emotional Abuse

Emotional Abuse is mistreating and controlling another through feelings.  The abuser will make the victim feel afraid and helpless.

Forms of Emotional Abuse:

• Insults
• Rejection
• Emotional Threats
• Emotional Blackmail
• Ignoring and Neglecting

All Victims of Crime have Rights!  Click here to view the rights of a crime victim as stated in South Dakota Codified Law 23A-28C-1

Cycle of Violence

The cycle of violence is the idea of a pattern of behavior that happens between a victim and abuser.  In the continuous cycle the victim and abuser go through three basic stages.  These stages can be viewed as a sunny day turning cloudy and rainy and ultimately into a sever thunderstorm. 

Stage 1: This stage can be described as "tension building."  Words may be exchanged between victim and abuser, doors may be slammed, things may be broke, but at this point no immediate harm has been done.  This should be the point where the two separate and try to work out their problems.  In the weather example, grey clouds start to cover the blue sky and the sun quickly disappears.  Stage 1 evolves into Stage 2.

Stage 2: This stage can be described as the "battering stage."  Words that were exchanged have turned to emotional, physical or sexual abuse.  This stage can last for only hours but can also last for days.  The grey clouds have turned black and the storm has arrived.  Some individuals who are stuck in the storm seek help from family and friends, however, many are forced to stay in the path of the storm and are put in grave danger.  Stage 2 eventually fades into Stage 3.

Stage 3: This stage is described as the "Honeymoon stage."  The abuser is now trying to show love to the victim and apologizes for the violence.  The abuser claims it will never happen again.  The abuser can be very convincing to the victim and is able to hide the violence from the 'outside world.'  The abuser will make excuses for the violent actions and may even try to blame the victim.  The sun is shining back on the world, the birds are chirping and the world seems happy.  This stage, however, will not last and will eventually return back to Stage 1. 

The only way to stop this cycle is for the victim to seek help from family and support groups.  The victim need to escape this cycle because as the cycle continues, Stages 1 and 2 will become more violent and dangerous and Stage 3 will become shorter and shorter. 

Statistics on Intimate Partner Violence: Bureau of Justice

Between 1994 and 2005, reporting to police of nonfatal intimate partner victimization increased for female victims.

For the 2001 to 2005 period, the percentage of nonfatal intimate partner victimizations reported to the police was —

• higher for black females than white females.
  
  
• higher for black females than black males.
  
  
• about the same for black and white males.

Private or personal matter was the most frequent reason given for not reporting nonfatal intimate partner violence to police. On average between 2001 and 2005, almost 40% of male and 22% of female victims gave this reason.

Between 2001 and 2005, for nonfatal intimate partner violence —

• 27% of female victims and 15% of male victims reported that the offender threatened to kill them.
  
  
• 23% of male victims were threatened with a weapon and 7% had an object thrown at them.
  
  
• about 1 in 10 female and male victims reported that the offender tried to hit, slap, or knock them down.
  

On average between 2001 and 2005, for nonfatal intimate partner violence —

• about two-thirds of female and male victims reported they were hit, slapped, or knocked down.
  
  
• male victims were more likely than female victims to be grabbed, held, or tripped.

To View more in-depth statistics from the Bureau of Justice click here

Shelters and Service Programs

Aberdeen Area- Lutheran Social Services: 229-1500   Safe Harbor: 226-1212 or 1-888-290-2935

Brookings Area- Domestic Abuse Shelter: 692-7233 or 1-888-643-5400

Burke Area- Gregory County Shelter: 775-2220 or 1-800-658-3486

Belle Fourche Area- Northern Hills Crisis Outreach: 723-0964 or 584-3560

Chamberlain Area- Missouri Valley Crisis: 234-5155 or 1-877-513-2361

Custer Area- Women Escaping a Violent Environment: 673-4357 of 673-6333

Eagle Butte Area- Sacred Heart Women's Shelter: 964-7233

Faith Area- Crisis Intervention Outreach: 967-2919

Flandreau Area- Wholeness Center: 997-3535

Ft. Thompson Area- Project Safe: 245-2471

Hot Springs Area- Women Escaping a Violent Environment: 673-4357 or 673-6333

Huron Area- YWCA Family Violence Program: 352-4952

Kyle Area- OST Victims Assistance: 455-2988

Lake Andes Area- Native American Women's Health Ed. Center: 487-7072

Lead Area- Northern Hills Crisis Outreach: 584-3560 or 723-0964

Lemmon Area- Communities Against Violence and Abuse: 374-5823

Lower Brule Area- Family Circle Crisis Center: 473-0770 or 730-1020

Madison Area- House of Hope: 256-6188

Martin Area- Cangleska Outreach: 685-1400 or 685-6986

Mission Area- While Buffalo Calf Woman Society: 856-2317

Mitchell Area- Area Safehouse: 996-6622

Mobridge Area- Bridges Against Domestic Violence: 845-2110

Pierre Area- Missouri Shores Domestic Violence Center: 224-0256 or 1-800-696-7187

Pine Ridge Area- Cangleska, Inc.: 867-1035

Rapid City Area- Youth and Family Services: 342-4303  Working Against Violence: 1-888-716-9284  Standing Strong: 341-3292

Redfield Area- Family Crisis Center: 472-3097

Sioux Falls Area- Rape and Domestic Abuse Center: 339-0116 or 339-4397  Children's Inn: 338-4880  Lutheran Social Services: 357-0100

Sisseton Area- Women's Circle: 698-4129

Spearfish Area- Victims of Violence Intervention Program: 642-7825

Sturgis Area- Crisis Intervention Shelter Service: 347-0050

Vermillion Area- Coalition Against Domestic Violence: 624-5311

Watertown Area- Women's Resource Center: 886-4300  Lutheran Social Services: 882-2740

Winner Area- Resource Center for Families: 842-2736

Yankton Area- Women's Shelter: 665-4811

South Dakota Domestic Abuse Hotline: 1-800-430-SAFE