SOUTH DAKOTA
SFGate
By NORA HERTEL, Associated Press
Updated 5:04 am, Sunday, February 16, 2014
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — As a TV reporter, Jolene Loetscher told other people’s stories. Now, as an advocate for childhood sexual abuse, she’s telling her story, if somewhat reluctantly.
Loetscher, who was assaulted as a teenager, has started a camp for abused kids and lobbied in support of legislation to remove the statute of limitations in some cases of child rape.
She’s currently helping in an effort to create a panel that would study the issue and recommend policy changes to state lawmakers. It would be called Jolene’s Law Task Force.
“It’s not just ‘Jolene’ that’s going through this,” Loetscher said. “I wanted it to be for all these other voiceless victims.”
An estimated 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are victims of sexual abuse.
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