A Victim’s Decision: The Psychology Behind Reporting Rape


SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -

Sioux Falls police are investigating two new rape cases reported on Thursday, both involving men the victims did not know.

The first is reported to have happened late Wednesday night at an apartment on North Western Avenue.

Police say a 22-year-old woman was entering the complex when a man smoking outside followed her in.

She told police he pushed his way into her apartment and raped her in a bedroom.

The second rape happened on the evening of December 23rd.

A 47-year-old woman told police she went into the laundry room at her apartment complex on South 2nd Avenue and saw two men she didn't recognize.

She told police they grabbed her and both raped her.

Officer Sam Clemens said, "if it's something that happened, it can be very traumatic and so it's not uncommon for victims to delay reporting that to police."

Deciding whether or not to come forward is a decision each woman accesses differently, says Michelle Markgraf, Executive Director for The Compass Center, a counseling and advocacy agency for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Markgraf says being raped is such a violating experience; counselors leave the decision whether or not to report it to the victim.

"All choice has been taken away when they got raped, because they definitely didn't choose that. So we give the choice back to them, and we give them the options. If she wants to do a rape kit, that's great. We'll sit with her and help her through that. We talk to her about reporting to law enforcement and if she decides to do that, we'll also sit with her and do that when the police come in and talk with her."

Markgraf says its more common for women who know their attackers to not want to come forward.

But for purposes of prosecution, there is only a three to five day window after a rape for evidence to be collected.

There are a number of outreach centers and shelters for victims in the area. More can be found here: http://www.sdnafvsa.com/shelter.php

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