April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month [Video]

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, every 68 seconds an American is sexually assaulted, and every 9 minutes that victim is a child. However, only 25 out of every 1,000 perpetrators will end up in prison.

Michelle Trent, executive director at the Compass Center who provides counseling and support for victims of domestic and sexual violence, explained that most individuals who experience sexual violence know their perpetrator.

“Family member, friend, spouse, partner, those kind of pieces. Very rarely does it happen in our community as people think a true stranger that happens as you know the movies depict it”, said Michelle.

Michelle explained that the biggest thing people can do to support victims of sexual assault is to believe them and that in most cases the perpetrators will groom those around them.

She said, “They’ll become the person in their …