1. Human Trafficking:
A Policy Recommendation for the State of South Dakota
Breanna M. Helland
BA Candidate, Department of Criminal Justice & Political Science
Existing State Policy
• SDCL 22-49-1. Criminalizes sex and
labor trafficking
• SDCL 20-9-46. Access to civil action
in court
• SDCL 22-24A-15. Asset forfeiture
What Is Human Trafficking?
• Exploiting another person by force,
fraud, or coercion for sex or labor
purposes
• For a minor child, no force element
is required
• Women and children are often
victims
• Pimps (demand side) use the
victim while johns (supply side) are
the middle man
Abstract
This Honors thesis project seeks to
advocate for state-level policy to
combat human trafficking. It relies
upon quantitative data, qualitative
interviews, and anecdotal evidence
to achieve this goal.
Acknowledgements
Special Thanks to: Sandy McKeown for directing this thesis; Rich Braunstein and Jo Pasqualucci for serving on the committee; USD Council for Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship for their guidance and research
opportunities through Udiscover Summer Scholars Program; Center for Academic and Global Engagement for their resources and support
“Human trafficking may not always be a priority [in the US Attorney’s office]. That’s why we need stronger state policy.”
- SD US Attorney, Brendan Johnson
Methodology
1. Collected quantitative data through
Polaris Project and Shared Hope
International. Shows SD has
comparatively low national incidence
rate with worst ranking for state
policy
2. Interviewed state officials,
lawmakers, and legislators to gain
insight regarding importance of
human trafficking policy, resources,
and improvements needed to current
legislation
 Includes US Attorney Brendan
Johnson, US Rep. Kristi Noem,
SD Attorney General’s Office,
Rapid City Police, and Shared
Hope International
Recommendations
• Stronger state statutes allowing for
harsher sentences
• Remedies for victims, including Safe
Harbor laws and possibility for
vacating prostitution convictions
resulting from sex trafficking
 Incentives for victims would
help encourage cooperation
with law enforcement
State Policy
Map above shows strength of existing state policy. SD has lowest ranking as Tier 3.
Victim Policy
Map above shows existence of policy protecting victims.
SD has no policies as Tier 4.
Tier 2
Tier 3
Tier 4
Tier 1
RATING
RATING
Tier 1
Tier 2
Tier 3
Tier 4