North Dakota
Domestic violence surges in the state as federal funding declines
DICKINSON — Each year, the North Dakota Council on Abused Women’s Services (CAWS), gathers data from 19 victim advocacy centers across the state, compiling annual fact sheets that provide a snapshot of how many victims of domestic violence (DV) and sexual assault (SA) reach out for help and what kinds of abuse they face.
CAWS annual statistics, published in April, revealed that advocacy centers served 6,131 victims of DV and 1,288 victims of SA in 2023, a 21% increase since 2022 where 6,128 victims served.
Women and girls made up the majority of victims, with 83% of DV cases involving females. Among SA victims, at least 1,042 were women. People with disabilities were also notably impacted, comprising 18% of DV victims and nearly one-third of SA victims.
Seth O’Neill, Executive Director of CAWS North Dakota, emphasized the statistics highlight a troubling reality: “The 7,419 total victims served is a shocking reminder of the prevalence of violence in our communities.” He noted that many incidents go unreported, indicating the true number is likely much higher.
Advocacy centers provided over 20,000 services to SA victims and assisted with 431 emergency protection orders in 2023. However, North Dakota’s advocates are preparing for a significant decline in federal funding over the next two years, even as violence rates rise. Lawmakers are expected to receive budget requests for additional state funding to offset the anticipated loss of federal support.
Liz Schneider, executive director of the McLean Family Resource Center, warned of increased lethality in violent incidents post-COVID, stating, “The level of violence is almost unfathomable.”
With federal funding from the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) dropping from an average of $5.2 million to $2.4 million, organizations are calling for increased state funding.
Challenges in rural areas
Darianne Johnson, executive director of Dickinson’s DV and Rape Crisis Center (DVRCC) discusses how the decrease in federal funding is already being felt in Stark County.
Photo Courtesy of DVRCC.
“We are really feeling it here, the decrease in funding is hard to wrap your head around for several reasons —One being yearly increases in victim numbers and then there’s the rising costs of everything from groceries and gas to services,” Johnson said. “It has been increasingly hard to understand especially when it comes time to assess the budget.”
DVRCC spans all of southwestern North Dakota including the counties of Adams, Billings, Bowman, Dunn, Golden Valley, Hettinger, Slope and Stark. Overall, these funding challenges pose a serious risk to the safety and well-being of domestic and sexual violence victims in southwest rural North Dakota, necessitating attention and action from state lawmakers and community leaders.
With only one DV shelter in southwestern North Dakota serving the entire area can significantly impact the community and the effectiveness of support services. Shelters may struggle to offer a comprehensive range of services, such as counseling, legal assistance, and advocacy, due to resource constraints.
North Dakota has seen an rise in domestic violence-related homicides, which account for 30%-40% of the state’s total homicides in recent years, according to CAWS. Many of these incidents occur in rural areas with limited access to support services.
Geographical barriers in remote or rural areas often force individuals to travel long distances, which deters many and further isolates those most in need.
Reduced funding could lead to potential implications:
- Increased Vulnerability: Fewer resources for victims, complicating the access for support, increasing their risk.
- Limited Accessibility: Increased wait times for services could delay their access to critical support.
- Service Gaps: Organizations may struggle to meet rising demand leaving victims without help.
- Staffing Challenges: Funding cuts can reduce the ability to hire and retain skilled staff, affecting service quality.
- Impact on Prevention Efforts: Less funding weakens violence prevention programs, worsening the cycle.
- Increased Pressure on State Funding: Reduced federal funds shift the burden to state budgets, risking cuts elsewhere.
- Rising Crime: Less funding and more violence could lead to higher crime rates.
- Local Program Strain: In rural areas, funding cuts leave critical gaps in support where services are already limited.
CAWS urges anyone experiencing domestic or sexual violence to seek help through their 24/7 confidential services. For assistance, individuals can visit the Find Help page on CAWS North Dakota’s
website
.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence they can reach the National Domestic Violence hotline at:
- 1−800−799−7233
- TTY 1−800−787−3224
- Local Hotline 1-888-225-4506.
LeAnn M. Stasiowski is the Community Pulse reporter for The Dickinson Press, covering education, business and cultural events. She profiles local businesses and entrepreneurs, reports on economic trends and educational developments, and highlights arts, entertainment and dining in the region. From attending school board meetings to reviewing local festivals and restaurants, LeAnn provides comprehensive coverage that celebrates and informs the community.
Greg Power, fisheries division chief with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, shares information about the new 2026-2028 Fishing Guide and a few new regulations starting April 1, 2026.
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“width”: “100%”
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}(jwConfig, “”));
jwplayer(“botr_Gvr2GKTY_3trNsOiL_div”).setup(jwConfig);
}());
SIOUX FALLS — Ali Stephens had 17 points and 13 rebounds and 8th-seeded Omaha defeated 9th-seeded North Dakota 49-39 in the first round of the Summit League women’s tournament.
The Fighting Hawks had a tough time putting the ball in the hoop all night long, scoring just three points in the first quarter and having only marginally better luck from there.
UND (7-24) shot just 23.5 percent from the floor (12-for-51) and made 1-of-20 shots from outside the arc. Walker Demers and Mackenzie Hughes had 10 points each to lead the Hawks, with Demers adding eight rebounds.
Matt Zimmer/Sioux Falls Live
Regan Juenemann had 10 points and five rebounds for the Mavericks while Avril Smith had seven points and 16 rebounds and Sarai Estupinan eight points, five assists and three rebounds. Omaha (6-26) shot the ball slightly better than the Hawks, going 16-of-53 from the field (30 percent) and 8-of-23 (35 percent) on 3-pointers.
With the win, the Mavs earn a date with top-seed North Dakota State on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.
The Bison won both regular season matchups by more than 50 points.
Matt Zimmer/Sioux Falls Live
Oral Roberts 84, Kansas City 62 — Don’t look now but the team that started the conference season 0-10 and at one point lost 15 of 16 games might be the hottest in the Summit League.
Oral Roberts picked up their fourth straight victory on Wednesday night in the conference tournament opener, routing Kansas City at the Premier Center in the 8/9 “play-in” game.
Ty Harper had 22 points to lead the Golden Eagles (10-22), who took a 44-21 lead by halftime and never looked back. ORU shot 50 percent from the floor and made 13-of-27 3-pointers while the Kangaroos shot just 34 percent and made 6-of-24 from deep. Martins Kilups had 17 points for the Eagles and Connor Dow added 14.
Jayson Petty had 14 points to lead the Kagaroos, who finish the season 4-27. It was their final game under coach Marvin Menzies, whom the school announced earlier this season would not return next year.
With the win ORU advances to face top-seed North Dakota State on Thursday at 6 p.m.
The Golden Eagles lost to NDSU 86-58 in Tulsa on Jan. 24 but they took the Bison to overtime in Fargo on Jan. 3 in a 79-77 loss.
Matt Zimmer is a Sioux Falls native and longtime sports writer. He graduated from Washington High School where he played football, legion baseball and developed his lifelong love of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. After graduating from St. Cloud State University, he returned to Sioux Falls, and began a long career in amateur baseball and sports reporting. Email Matt at mzimmer@siouxfallslive.com.
North Dakota
The North Dakota Attorney General issued an opinion to the ND State Auditor – North Dakota Attorney General
04 Mar The North Dakota Attorney General issued an opinion to the ND State Auditor
in Opinions
March 4, 2026
Media Contact: Suzie Weigel, 701.328.2210
BISMARCK, ND – It is the opinion that federal law does not prevent the state from auditing P&A and even though P&A possesses confidential records, N.D.C.C. § 54-10-22.1 and 42 C.F.R. § 51.45(c) authorize the state auditor and the employees of the auditor’s office, to review the records without detriment to P &A.
Also, whether Rule 1.6 of the North Dakota Rules of Professional Conduct for licensed attorneys prohibits P&A from disclosing to the State Auditor the contents of a client file for the purpose of conducting a non-financial performance audit under N.D.C.C. ch. 54-10 when the requested file includes information about individuals and businesses in the private sector who chose to contact P &A.
This issue was already addressed in a 1995 opinion of this office regarding P&A. The 1995 opinion highlighted that P&A has authority to contract with private attorneys to represent private individuals. 17 During that performance audit, auditors asked to see billings from the contracted attorneys. 18 P&A redacted the names of the individuals represented by the contract attorneys under the rules for attorney-client privilege or attorney-client confidentiality. 19 The names of individuals seeking services of P&A are protected under N.D.C.C. § 25-01.3. The opinion stated:
Thus, P&A’s records which indicate to whom its services were provided are available to the State Auditor for performance audit purposes. The State Auditor has
been given access by P&A to its records other than the attorney’s billings. Therefore, the State Auditor already has access to the names of the persons to whom P&A
provides services. State law requires that the State Auditor and his employees must keep such information confidential.
Here, P&A has not identified a specific record. Given that, I rely on the past opinions declaring that records made confidential by N.D.C.C. § 25-01.3-10 are available under N.D.C.C. § 54-10-22 to the State Auditor and the Auditor’s employees for audit purposes.
Link to opinion 2026-L-01
###
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