South Dakota Domestic Violence Help & Safety Resources

DV shelters, tribal resources, safety steps, and emergency guidance for survivors in South Dakota.

South Dakota Safety and Resource Guide

1. Statewide and Tribal Support Options

This section lists statewide and tribal options that may offer safety planning, advocacy, shelter, and legal or systems navigation. Availability and services can change, so consider calling or checking websites when possible.

1.1 Statewide Domestic and Sexual Violence Coalitions

• Statewide coalitions often:
  • List local shelters and advocacy programs
  • Provide general information about protection orders and court processes
  • Offer training and materials for safety planning
• Options to look for in South Dakota:
  • A statewide domestic violence and sexual assault coalition website with a “Find Help” or “Member Programs” list
  • State government victim services pages that list approved programs and tribal victim assistance offices

1.2 Local Programs and Shelter Networks

Most services in South Dakota are provided locally, even when information is listed on a statewide site.

• Common types of programs:
  • Domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy centers
  • Emergency shelters and safe homes
  • Transitional or short‑term housing programs
  • Legal advocacy or court accompaniment
  • Child and youth advocacy services
• Ways to locate local programs:
  • Search for “South Dakota domestic violence shelter [nearest city]”
  • Check statewide coalition directories for county‑by‑county program lists
  • Look at county or city websites under “Victim Services” or “Family Violence”
  • Ask a medical clinic, social worker, or legal aid office for a list of local advocacy programs

1.3 Tribal Programs in South Dakota

Many tribes in South Dakota operate their own victim services, shelters, and advocacy programs for tribal members and sometimes for non‑members living on or near the reservation.

• Types of tribal response programs:
  • Tribal victim services offices (often within tribal courts or public safety)
  • Tribal domestic violence and sexual assault programs
  • Shelters or safe homes operated by or in partnership with the tribe
  • Tribal legal or court advocates who understand local and federal jurisdiction issues
• Places to check for tribal program information:
  • Official tribal government websites (look for “Victim Services,” “Family Violence,” “Public Safety,” or “Social Services”)
  • Tribal court or law enforcement public information pages
  • Printed flyers or posters in tribal health clinics, IHS facilities, or community centers
  • Statewide coalition directories that include tribal programs
• When contacting a tribal program, you can ask:
  • Who is eligible for services (tribal members only, family members, community members)
  • What kinds of help they provide (shelter, advocacy, transportation, court support)
  • Whether they coordinate with state or federal agencies in your situation

1.4 Legal and Court-Related Support

Advocacy programs in South Dakota may be able to explain your options and accompany you, even though they do not give legal advice.

• Possible options to explore:
  • Legal aid or legal services organizations that handle civil matters such as protection orders, custody, or housing
  • Tribal legal services for cases in tribal court
  • Victim assistance units through state’s attorneys, tribal prosecutors, or law enforcement
  • Court self‑help centers or websites that provide forms and basic process information
• Questions you might ask when you contact them:
  • What types of cases they handle
  • Eligibility rules (income, residency, tribal citizenship, case type)
  • Whether they offer brief advice clinics, document review, or full representation

2. Safety Actions to Consider Now

These are practical steps people often review when thinking about safety in South Dakota. Not all steps will make sense for every situation.

2.1 Information and Documentation

• Keep important numbers accessible:
  • Local or tribal victim services programs
  • Trusted friends or family who can help with transportation or a place to stay
  • Medical clinics, child care providers, and schools
• Store copies of key documents in a safe place or with a trusted person:
  • Identification: state ID, tribal ID, driver’s license, Social Security cards
  • Immigration, tribal enrollment, or citizenship records if applicable
  • Birth certificates for you and children
  • Health cards and important prescriptions
  • Protection orders or court documents (state, tribal, or federal)
• Consider backing up photos or scans of documents in a secure online account if it is safe for you.

2.2 Communication and Technology Safety

• Review which devices may be shared or accessible to the other person:
  • Phones, tablets, and computers
  • Shared online accounts (email, cloud storage, banking, benefits portals)
  • Location‑sharing features in apps or on vehicles
• Options to reduce unwanted monitoring may include:
  • Changing passwords from a device that the other person cannot access
  • Turning off location sharing in apps and device settings where safe
  • Using private browsing when researching housing, legal options, or travel plans
  • Creating a new email or phone number that is not shared
• When using shared devices, consider logging out after use and clearing browser history if safe to do so.

2.3 Daily Routine and In‑the‑Moment Safety

• Identify spaces that may be safer if an argument starts:
  • Rooms with more than one exit
  • Areas away from items that can be used as weapons
  • Public or semi‑public spaces where other people are nearby
• Think about small adjustments to routines, if they feel useful:
  • Varying routes to work, school, or frequent locations
  • Letting someone you trust know your approximate schedule
  • Planning how you would leave quickly with children or pets
• Consider a simple code word or phrase you can use with trusted people to signal that you want them to call, come over, or check in.

2.4 Children, Dependents, and Pets

• For children and dependents:
  • Decide what you want schools, child care, or adult care programs to know
  • Ask how they handle pick‑up authorizations and emergency contact changes
  • Keep copies of any custody, guardianship, or court orders with you or in a safe place
• For pets and livestock:
  • Identify who could temporarily care for pets if you need to leave quickly
  • Gather vaccination records and ownership documents if available
  • Ask local shelters or victim services if they know of pet‑friendly shelters, boarding options, or farm/livestock boarding arrangements

3. Eviction and Leaving Housing in South Dakota

Housing decisions in South Dakota can be affected by state, local, tribal, and federal rules. This section offers general considerations, not legal advice.

3.1 Before Leaving a Rental or Shared Home

• Review your housing situation:
  • Whether you are on a lease, a month‑to‑month rental, or staying informally
  • Whose name is on the lease, mortgage, or utility bills
  • Whether the housing is tribal, private, public, or employer‑provided
• Items you may want to gather before leaving if it is safe:
  • Keys, key cards, mailbox keys
  • Any written lease or rental agreement
  • Recent rent receipts or bank statements showing rent payments
  • Photos of the condition of the home and belongings
• If you receive housing assistance, consider:
  • Contacting the housing authority or tribal housing office (from a safe phone) to ask about reporting safety concerns
  • Asking what happens to your voucher or assistance if you move because of harm in the home

3.2 Eviction and Possible Protections

• South Dakota law, tribal law, and federal housing rules may handle domestic and sexual violence situations differently. Possible points to ask about:
  • Whether your landlord can evict you for incidents related to violence against you
  • Whether you can request a lease bifurcation or similar option to remove the person causing harm from the lease while you stay
  • How much notice is typically required for eviction in your type of housing
• Who might explain local eviction procedures:
  • Legal aid organizations
  • Tribal legal services or tribal court clerks for reservation housing
  • Tenant information lines or housing counseling agencies, if available in your area
• When you talk with a professional, you can ask:
  • How an eviction or notice could affect your record
  • Whether there are steps to seal or explain an eviction linked to victimization
  • What options exist for staying temporarily or relocating

3.3 Leaving Quickly: Short‑Notice Moves

• Transportation:
  • Identify how you would leave if you had to go on short notice (car, friend, community ride programs, tribal or county transport)
  • Check how much fuel you have and where you would safely stop if you need to travel long distances between towns
• Essential items to prioritize if time is limited:
  • Identification and documents listed earlier
  • Medications and medical equipment
  • Bank cards, cash, or benefit cards
  • A change of clothes and weather‑appropriate gear (especially for winter conditions)
  • Phone, charger, and any important contact information written on paper
• Storage of belongings:
  • Consider whether a trusted person can store a small bag in advance
  • Ask local or tribal programs if they know of short‑term storage options or safe homes
  • Take photos of valuable or important belongings if you cannot bring them immediately

3.4 Coordinating Housing Changes with Legal Processes

• If you have or are seeking a protection order (state or tribal):
  • Ask whether it can address who stays in the home and who must leave
  • Clarify how the order is enforced if the home is on tribal land, off‑reservation, or in federal housing
• If there are children or dependents:
  • Ask a legal professional how moving might affect custody, visitation, or guardianship proceedings
  • Keep copies of any existing orders with you when you change housing
• For tribal members:
  • Consider talking with both tribal victim services and legal services about how housing moves affect jurisdiction between tribal and state courts

4. Planning Next Steps

Planning can be adjusted over time. You can combine local South Dakota, tribal, and statewide options with your own support network.

• Write down or save:
  • A short list of key contacts (advocacy program, legal help, trusted people)
  • Any questions you want to ask about housing, protection orders, or benefits
  • Notes on what has worked or not worked for your safety so far
• Re‑check:
  • Whether your contact list and documents are up to date
  • Changes to local shelter availability, tribal services, or transportation options

Recommended Articles

• Safety Planning Checklist
• Gathering Evidence and Documentation
• Protective Orders Overview
• Leaving and Logistics Planning
• Housing and Shelter Options