STOP Trainings for Law Enforcement
These specific South Dakota statutes are as follows:
23-3-39.4. Domestic abuse training for law enforcement officers: A law enforcement officer shall attend training on the following issues pertaining to domestic abuse: enforcement of criminal laws in domestic abuse situations; availability of community resources; and protection of the victim. After initial training, an officer shall attend further training at least once every four years. Source: SL 1994, ch 171, § 1.
23-3-39.6. Domestic abuse and mental health training for state’s attorney or deputy state’s attorney: Each state’s attorney or deputy state’s attorney shall receive training on evidence-based practices, as defined in subdivision 16-22-1(7); mental health and available mental health services; and the following issues pertaining to domestic abuse: enforcement of criminal laws in domestic abuse situations; availability of community resources; and protection of the victim. After initial training, each state’s attorney or deputy state’s attorney shall attend further training at least once every four years. Source: SL 1994, ch 171, § 2; SL 2017, ch 92, § 7; SL 2017, ch 109, § 8.
23-3-42.1. Training in domestic abuse issues required: The minimum training required of each law enforcement officer for certification shall include a minimum total of four hours on the following issues pertaining to domestic abuse:
- Enforcement of criminal laws in domestic abuse situations;
- Availability of community resources; and
- Protection of the victim.
Source: SL 1989, ch 203.
The STOP trainings provided across the state are done through a team approach made up of law enforcement, prosecutor, and advocate trainers who coordinate together to provide the most invaluable training curriculum, information, resources, and real-life experiences.
Training is requested from across the state by law enforcement, prosecutors, shelters, and resource agencies. The STOP training team goes to wherever they are needed to provide the training requested for no cost. The only requirement of the host is to provide the training space.
The STOP grant allows The Network to train on the following topics:
Domestic Violence to include all academy training and certification for new recruits.
Understanding the dynamics of abuse and violence-related SD laws, investigation, prosecution, and victim services. Trainees are provided an overview of best practices for domestic violence investigations, illustrating the importance of local collaboration with professionals and agencies in the community responding to these crimes.
Sexual Assault
Understanding the dynamics of sexual violence-related SD laws, investigation, prosecution, and victim services. Participants are provided an overview of best practices for sexual violence investigations, illustrating the importance of local collaboration with professionals and agencies in the community responding to these crimes.
Advanced Sexual Assault
This training takes a deeper dive into sexual violence to include understanding the facts and myths about sexual violence, trauma-informed response, South Dakota laws, investigation and interviewing, prosecution, and victim services. Click here for more information about the FREE Advanced Sexual Assault trainings offered by The Network.
Human Trafficking
Understanding the dynamics of human trafficking related SD laws, investigation, prosecution, and victim services. This training can be included under domestic and sexual violence training.
Strangulation
Understanding the signs and symptoms of strangulation, trauma-informed response, South Dakota laws, investigation and interviewing, prosecution, and victim services.
Stalking
Understanding the signs of stalking and what stalking can look like, trauma-informed response, South Dakota laws, investigation and interviewing, prosecution, and victim services.
Protection Orders
Participants will be able to list the elements of a valid protection/ stalking order, be able to identify and investigate violations of protection/stalking orders, and describe how a victim obtains a protection/stalking order, including why they are obtained and why they are dropped. Participants will also be able to identify what is meant by full faith and credit enforcement and describe liability for the failure to enforce a protection order.
Reciprocity
Focuses on investigations, prosecutions, trauma-informed response, advocacy, and victim services surrounding domestic violence.
Victim Services
Overview of resources and victim services available across South Dakota.
Elder Abuse
Understanding the dynamics of elder abuse and what it looks like, South Dakota law, prosecution, trauma-informed response, and available resources.
Training formats range from four hours to two days, depending on the request. Training at the academy happens three times per year—spring, summer, and fall—and consist of three-day sessions. Reciprocity trainings are offered twice per year and are four hours in length.
STOP Grant Training Impact (July 2024–June 2025)
✔️ 437 law enforcement officers
✔️ 16 prosecutors
✔️ 22 victim advocates
✔️ 2 community support personnel
Since July, we’ve already trained 209 officers and additional advocates — with more sessions to come.
Training saves lives. Training changes outcomes.
For STOP training inquiries, please reach out to the STOP grant Coordinator, Scott Hultgren at scott@sdnafvsa.com or (605) 731-0041.