South Dakota FBI Victim Specialist Gayle Scott Named Hometown Hero

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced on June 3, 2026, that the District of South Dakota has recognized Federal Bureau of Investigation Victim Specialist Gayle Scott as a Hometown Hero for her career serving crime victims.

The award honors Scott's work supporting victims in federal cases handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI across South Dakota. The district prosecutes crimes including violence against women, child exploitation, drug trafficking and Indian Country offenses; victim specialists coordinate services from initial report through trial and post-sentencing.

Federal data show the South Dakota U.S. Attorney's Office opens more than 1,000 criminal matters annually, with victim specialists assigned in the majority of cases involving human victims.

The recognition does not alter any statute, funding or operational policy. It formally commends Scott's direct assistance to victims in accessing rights established under the Crime Victims' Rights Act, including notification, restitution and safety planning. The Hometown Hero designation is conferred by the district and carries no monetary award.

Downstream, the public acknowledgment reinforces internal priorities for victim-centered prosecution. FBI field offices and U.S. Attorney districts nationwide maintain victim specialist teams; formal district-level honors like this one can influence recruitment and retention for those specialized roles.

Federal grant programs such as the Office for Victims of Crime's Victim Assistance Formula Grants, which allocated more than $500 million nationally in recent years, support the staff and services Scott's position represents. Other South Dakota agencies and tribal victim advocates now have a named point of contact whose work has been singled out for excellence.

This marks the latest in a series of victim-service recognitions issued by the Department of Justice. The U.S. Attorney's Office for South Dakota has previously highlighted staff contributions to the Victim Notification System and to specialized units handling sexual assault and child pornography cases.

The FBI's Victim Services Division, established to standardize support across all field offices, traces its current framework to enhancements following the 2004 Crime Victims' Rights Act.