North Dakota
State program expands services to domestic violence victims
BISMARCK — Domestic violence victims in central and western North Dakota will now have access to expanded forensic medical services under a state-funded pilot program.
The Legislature last year with the approval of Senate Bill 2202 set aside $250,000 in grant dollars through the Attorney General’s Office toward the effort.
Supporters of the bill told lawmakers that Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, who provide trauma-informed care including forensic photography and assessment of injuries to sexual assault victims, should also be made available to victims of domestic violence.
Central Dakota Forensic Nurse Examiners, a nonprofit with nurses that respond to area hospitals to assist victims, was awarded $220,000 of the state grant dollars and began offering the expanded services in the Bismarck and Williston regions on Thursday, Feb. 1.
The nonprofit saw an inequality in the response available to victims, said Kristie Wolff, communications and engagement coordinator.
“If two victims had nearly identical circumstances, but one was bitten on the breast and the other was bitten on the shoulder during the assault, they would have access to different services,” Wolff said.
The sexual assault victim would have access to a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, who is trained to take photos that can later be used as evidence, collect saliva from bite marks, assess injuries and provide expert testimony in court. That would be available at no cost through the state program, Wolff said.
But previously the victim of physical violence would have been referred to the emergency room at their own expense with no access to a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, she said.
“We believe both victims deserve access to the same care,” she said.
Tisha Scheurer, the nonprofit’s executive director, told legislators last year that the multi-disciplinary approach used by Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners leads to better health outcomes and higher prosecution rates.
The nurses also participate in a detailed interview process, and sometimes victims are more comfortable with the medical provider than law enforcement, she said.
“We cannot continue to ignore the other victim population that is even bigger in numbers,” Scheurer told lawmakers last year.
A survivor of domestic violence told a legislative committee that evidence collected in her case did not make it to a judge. The woman said one police officer took a photo of her injury through a patrol car window. Additional photos taken at a hospital did not qualify to be admitted into evidence, she said.
In 2022, domestic violence crisis shelters across the state served 6,128 new victims, according to CAWS North Dakota, the statewide sexual and domestic violence coalition.
It’s unclear how many victims the new pilot program might serve. Wolff said she anticipates it primarily benefiting victims of felony-level violence, such as nonfatal strangulation or cases involving a weapon or severe injury.
Central Dakota Forensic Nurse Examiners serves Burleigh, Morton, Grant, Sioux, Kidder, Sheridan and Emmons counties through its Bismarck region and Divide, McKenzie, and Williams counties through the Williston region.
The Abused Adult Resource Center in Bismarck and the Family Crisis Shelter in Williston are partners in implementing the new program.
“By continuing our work together, we can create a safer and more supportive environment where survivors of intimate partner violence feel empowered to seek help and reclaim their lives,” said Courtney Monroe Ryckman, direct services supervisor with the Abused Adult Resource Center.
Another $20,000 in grant dollars was awarded to Safe Alternatives for Abused Families in Devils Lake, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
The state funding is a one-time program, but organizations will report back to the Legislature during the 2025 session. Central Dakota Forensic Nurse Examiners also plans to make the expanded services available to pediatric patients in the future, Wolff said.
This story was originally published on NorthDakotaMonitor.com
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Submitted Photo
U.S. soldiers with the Nebraska and North Dakota National Guards, assigned to Joint Task Force-District of Columbia in support of the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, pose for a group photo at a hotel in Alexandria, Virginia, April 28. N.D. National Guard 2nd Lt. Caleb Hill, front row, far left, served as the officer in charge of the mission when soldiers assigned to JTF-DC responded to the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner April 25. About 2,500 National Guard members are supporting the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, providing critical assistance to the Metropolitan Police Department to help ensure the safety of residents, commuters and visitors throughout the District. U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Norris.
WASHINGTON – U.S. soldiers with the North Dakota, Arkansas and Nebraska Army National Guard, assigned to Joint Task Force-District of Columbia in support of the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, responded to a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner (WHCAD) at the Washington Hilton in Northwest Washington April 25.
The Guardsmen were at the WHCAD at the request of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) as an additional patrol unit created specifically for the event, which celebrates the contribution of news organizations and independent journalists alike who provide notable coverage relating to the presidential administration.
“Our mission was to assist the U.S. Secret Service with crowd control,” said Capt. Kevin Peatrowsky, an operations officer with the Nebraska National Guard (NENG) assigned to JTF-DC.
As the Guardsmen were monitoring their area of operations, they saw USSS agents sprint toward the hotel entrance.
“They were running full speed with their weapons drawn,” said Sgt. 1st. Class Allen Haney, a team member with the Arkansas National Guard. “We immediately followed suit.”
Staff Sgt. Kirsten Confer, a NENG combat medic and battle captain, recalled her response to the incident: “We fell back on our basic training. You run toward danger and move in a way that makes sense for the situation.”
According to Confer, the Guardsmen entered the hotel and immediately began securing the scene and ensured that the guests evacuated safely. At the direction of a federal agent, Confer began a rapid trauma assessment on the suspect which resulted in finding knives and ammunition on the shooter. Simultaneously, the Arkansas soldiers moved outside to provide crowd control at a pedestrian barricade outside the hotel.
“From there, we assisted wherever we could,” said 2nd Lt. Caleb Hill, a National Guardsman from North Dakota who served as the officer in charge for the mission. “We were initially helping with crowd control. After that, we realized that the USSS had begun rerouting everyone in the hotel, so we moved to the doors. We were controlling entry into the venue, so we had moved a couple more people outside, so we had five inside, eight outside.” Both Arkansas and Nebraska worked well alongside one another and, alongside the federal agencies. Hill also noted that relying on his soldiers allowed him to move to different teams, which helped allow him to plan and coordinate with different agencies.
According to 1st Lt. Jonathan Goins, a platoon leader with the Arkansas National Guard, Arkansas soldiers also helped establish a security perimeter for the staging of the presidential motorcade. Later, the team assisted federal agencies and MPD with crowd control, which helped clear the way for the president and administration officials, he said.
“Guardsmen on this mission represent the very best of the nation,” said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Leland Blanchard II, the interim commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard. “The world got a brief glimpse, but I see them each day serving and doing amazing things across the District.”
FARGO, N.D. (KELO) — The Sioux Falls Stampede staved off elimination with a 2-1 overtime win over the Fargo Force in game four of the USHL Western Conference Finals Saturday night.
Thomas Zocco scored the game-winner 12 minutes into the extra period. Arseni Marchenko put Fargo on the board first in the first period. Noah Mannausau tied the game for the Herd in the second period.
Sioux Falls outshot Fargo 53-49, including 9-5 in overtime. Linards Feldbergs made 48 saves.
Three of the four games of the series have gone to overtime. The winner-take-all game five is Tuesday at the Premier Center.
New ballot measure guide to be mailed to North Dakota voters ahead of election
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