Those who combat violence against women in South Dakota are applauding Governor Daugaard’s new Public Safety Improvement Act.
The Act includes broad reforms to the state’s criminal justice system. In part it targets non-violent offenders with probation and treatment rather than prison.
But it also has provisions to hold violent criminals more accountable.
Krista Heeren-Graber is the Executive Director of the South Dakota Network Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault.
She says the act includes the statewide automated victim notification system. It allows victims to track offenders through the process and know if and when they are released from custody.
“So it gives them every opportunity to insure their safety. They’ll know when they are in jail they’ll know when they’re released they know what’s going on with them. And they’re offered as much information as they prefer to know. They have the ability to choose their own level of safety let’s say because they know when he’s in jail they know when he’s released that type of thin.
Heeren-Graber says the act also includes new provisions that provide more restitution paid back to the victim by offenders for any damages incurred during the crime.