Date of Award
Spring 5-2025
Document Type
Honors Thesis
Department/Major
Arts and Sciences
First Advisor
Wynette Mockler
Second Advisor
Tyler Custis
Third Advisor
N/A
Keywords
Sioux Falls, Crime, Public Health, Recidivism
Abstract
Sioux Falls, South Dakota is a rapidly growing city that has an emerging public health concern. While the city boasts high ranks in quality-of-life metrics, crime remains a significant concern as it does with most growing cities. This thesis aims at exploring the relationship between public health and crime for the city of Sioux Falls. It emphasizes how social determinants such as poverty, housing insecurity, mental illness, and systemic inequality contribute to crime rates. Through a public health framework, the study proposes a three-tiered approach, primary, secondary, and tertiary preventions. Each of these preventions will address both the root causes of crime and its downstream impacts. It also draws from national models such as the Seattle Social Development Project and the Texas Reinvestment Initiative to find evidence-based strategies that can be adapted to the city of Sioux Falls. Integrated community-based prevention efforts, especially those that target youth, at risk populations, and formerly incarcerated individuals, can reduce crime and overall improve public safety. Through these approaches, it is possible to reduce crime, improve public safety, and promote long term community well-being.
Recommended Citation
Stukel, Samuel D., "Public Health and Crime Rates in Sioux Falls, SD" (2025). Honors Thesis. 394.
https://red.library.usd.edu/honors-thesis/394