Rapid City, S.D. (KELO) — Victims of sexual and domestic violence need to have their voices heard and understood by the people trying to help them.
200 members of law enforcement, prosecutors, medical workers, victim services, educators and other professionals are attending this 2-day event.
“What gets the best outcome for victims, be it prosecution in the criminal justice system or not. But as long as we’re all working together we can be a force multiplier if you will and bring to weight the full force of all of the resources that all of us bring to the table,” Assistant United States Attorney Heather Knox said.
The journey is different for each victim, but they begin the same.
“The process of healing first begins when you first believe the victim and you first provide those supports. Then how the journey goes is what we’re here now, to make sure how that journey goes by continuing to support those healings in the form of finding justice at the end for the crime that was committed,” Program Manager Tanya Grassel-Krietlow said.
“It’s also a reminder for those of us in the law enforcement realm to not put such a great weight on the victim. There are things we can do to find evidence, to corroborate her story or his story, to build up the bricks in the wall to get us beyond a reasonable doubt,” Knox said.
Getting each of those layers on the same page to better protect these victims is key.
“If we all come at it with a lens of victim centered, let’s meet the victim where we’re at. That’s all helpful in the healing process for that victim and for the end result, whatever it is you’re here for. Whether that be, like I said, for the medical, the criminal justice, or the advocacy,” Grassel-Krietlow said.
The FAST tribal sexual assault initiative aims to connect the people involved in sexual assault response to help victims heal and move forward.
