There are several portals from which South Dakota criminal records can be obtained. One of them is the Unified Judicial System. It offers a statewide search service for all criminal records, but a fee of 1$5 per search is charged. The request for a search can be sent to the following:
Union County Clerk of Court
209 East Main, Suite 230, Elk Point, SD 57025-2327;
State Court Administrator's Office
500 East Capitol Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501;
and to any clerk of court offices.
Aside from criminal records, the Unified Judicial System also makes civil case information available to the public. The search can be completed online and requires a paid account.
The Division of Criminal Investigation, meanwhile, has a Computerized Criminal History (CCH) service, providing the public with access to felony and misdemeanor records. The search is fingerprint-based and costs $24. Requests for a criminal record are accompanied by an Authorization and Release form, which is downloadable from the website.
The Division of Criminal Investigation has links to:
Missing Persons
DARE
Task Force on Drugs
Community Policing
NIBRS (National Incident-Based Reporting System)
Sex Offender Registry
Crime Victim Services
DNA Samples for ID
On the South Dakota Sex Offender Registry is a database of the registered sex offenders residing in the state. This provides the public with information on the whereabouts of sex offenders. Sex offenders can be searched one of three ways: text search, map search, and neighborhood search.
Text search requires all or some of the following information: last name, first name, alias, address, county, city, and zip code of the offender. Map search, on the other hand, provides a map for each of these options: Search by Offender Name, Search by County, and Search by City. Neighborhood search requires the neighborhood address, city, state, and zip code. The search will be limited within the specified radius.
The South Dakota Department of Corrections also accepts requests for arrest records. Requests for records should be made through office or phone transactions, since information and records are not made available online. The Department website nevertheless offers information on adult corrections, parole, and juvenile corrections, including information on facilities and services. It also maintains a list of escapees and walkaways and another list for parole absconders. Information on the offenders is provided.
Other than the state-run criminal records services, there are also independent online portals for South Dakota criminal records. These include the Public Record Center, which is an online search tool that performs a criminal background check. To facilitate a record, the tool needs to be completed with the first name, last name, and city of the person of interest.
Aside from the Public Record Center, Public Background Search is also available to the public. It requires the first name and last name of the person being checked.
If you would like to obtain South Dakota background checks and criminal records, follow the instructions detailed below:
Step 1.
Visit the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation for the phone number of the Identification Section.
Step 2.
Request a packet for obtaining a criminal record, and they will mail it to you at no cost.
Step 3.
Fill out the authorization of release form, get your fingerprints taken according to the instructions, and mail the packet back with a certified check or money order for $24 to the Division of Criminal Investigation.
For additional information, the South Dakota Criminal Justice Division is available to assist you:
South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation
Criminal Justice Division
Identification Section
1302 E. Hwy 14, Suite 5
Pierre, SD 57501
(605) 773-3331
Persons wanting to find out information on South Dakota arrest records will need to contact the South Dakota Department of Corrections. Because of conflicting state statutes regarding the types of information that can be released on inmates, South Dakota arrest records are not available online.
To find out more about South Dakota arrest records, you will need to:
Step 1.
Call the South Dakota Department of Corrections at (605) 367-5190 or (605) 367-5140.
Step 2.
You will need information on the inmate, such as their first and last name and date of birth.
Step 3.
For inmates held in county arrests, you will need to contact the arrest directly for records.
For additional help accessing South Dakota arrest records, you can contact the Department of Corrections at:
South Dakota Department of Corrections
3200 East Highway 34
c/o 500 East Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
(605) 773-3478
Finding and Viewing South Dakota Criminal Records
The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation maintains the state's criminal record repository and offers authorized users access to the Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system. They also accept requests over the phone. The DCI will mail you a criminal record packet that includes instructions for getting fingerprinted and an authorization of release form. The fee for this service is $24, payable by certified check or money order once the packet is completed and mailed back.
Who is Allowed to Retrieve South Dakota Criminal Records?
South Dakota only provides law enforcement agencies and authorized employment agencies access to their online database for the purpose of conducting South Dakota background checks. Individuals may request their own criminal record by calling and requesting a packet.
Public Records
Court Records
Criminal Records
Birth Records
Death Records
Marriage Records
Divorce Records
Genealogy Records