SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Sexual assault in Sioux Falls and South Dakota is higher than the national average.
Executive Director of the Compass Center Michelle Markgraf says according to the F.B.I. South Dakota is 50% higher than the rest of the country for per capita rapes. She says that places South Dakota second in the country in per capita rape with Alaska coming in at number one.
Markgraf says according to police records there were 97 rapes in 2015 and 107 in 2016. She says that puts Sioux Falls 23% higher than the national average.
April is sexual assault awareness month.
Markgraf says South Dakotans must rise up together and declare that sexual assault is not to be tolerated.
She says for a long time we've always put the onus on the person: don't dress that way, don't get drunk, don't go down that dark alley, don't do this and don't do that.
"Obviously that doesn't work. We need to start taking this on as an entire community. That this is our responsibility to make a difference to make a difference in the lives of the people in South Dakota."
