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South Dakota ranks 49th in the country for its contribution to indigent legal defense costs, according to a 2023 report from the Indigent Legal Services Task Force. (Adobe Stock)

SD public defense duties shift from counties to state

South Dakota is creating an Office of Indigent Legal Services after House Bill 1057 passed the Legislature with nearly unanimous support this month…

In 2020, the University of South Dakota became the latest academic institution to develop a graduate-level studies program, inspired by the Zero Abuse Project, that gives students a more realistic experience in responding to child maltreatment cases. (Adobe Stock)

SD Sees Progress in Boosting Training for Child-Abuse Case Workers

A South Dakota academic program that enhances training for those who respond to child abuse and neglect cases is gaining momentum. In the past …

A new national study says rates of online childhood sexual abuse are particularly high for girls at 23% compared to 7% for boys. (Adobe Stock)

Internet Task Forces Balance Tips, Tech Hurdles in Protecting Kids

South Dakota investigators say they're carrying heavy caseloads dealing with internet crimes against children. There's hope new research and pressure …

South Dakota's Pine Ridge Reservation has its own Public Safety Department to uphold tribal and federal law. (Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS Decision Prompts Concerns about Tribal Sovereignty

Tribal advocates are closely analyzing the potential impact of a new U.S. Supreme Court ruling dealing with state investigations of certain crimes on …

South Dakota will soon transition to a temporary state Attorney General following the impeachment and removal of Jason Ravnsborg. (Adobe Stock)

SD Political Expert: Attorney General's Removal Reflects Public Will

On the heels of Tuesday's removal of South Dakota's attorney general, a political expert says it appears lawmakers followed through on what voters …

Juvenile justice reform advocates in South Dakota say a lack of resources for diversion programs in some counties has created unintended consequences for a system overhaul several years ago. (Adobe Stock)

SD to Revisit Juvenile Justice Reform

This summer, South Dakota lawmakers are looking at a range of issues tied to the state's correctional system. That includes another dive into efforts …

Supporters of a South Dakota bill to remove petty marijuana convictions from a person's criminal background check have noted that a majority of arrests involve young adults, and that a single offense can hurt their ability to eventually get a job. (Adobe Stock)

After Veto, SD Will Keep Minor Pot Convictions Permanent

South Dakota has seen many debates over marijuana policy in recent years. The latest surrounds removal of past convictions for certain offenders…

South Dakota is looking to join neighboring states in broadening the language under laws dealing with criminal sexual contact. (Adobe Stock)

SD Looks to Bolster Law Surrounding Sexual Contact

A few words not included in South Dakota's law dealing with criminal sexual contact came to light in a recent investigation, and now, child-…

A body of research has found frequent family visits and phone calls to someone who's incarcerated not only reduces recidivism, but also strengthens family relationships. (Adobe Stock)

Family Visits for People in Jail Seen as Key to Success

As holiday celebrations continue, groups that study issues in prisons say families with a loved one who's incarcerated should make attempts to …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

PIERRE, S.D. -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by both …

If South Dakota's attorney general is removed from office, it would be the first time in state history that a state official would be impeached. (Adobe Stock)

SD Political Expert: Public Confused by AG's Status

PIERRE, S.D. -- Government accountability is part of the debate surrounding South Dakota's attorney general, who faces pressure to resign over a …

South Dakota is one of 25 states that still allow the death penalty. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates of Scaling Back Death Penalty in SD Vow to Continue

PIERRE, S.D. -- The South Dakota Senate has rejected a measure that would have limited the scope of the death penalty. Supporters felt the latest …

Congress has advanced a bill aimed to enhance safety for Indigenous women. According to one study provided by the Justice Department, murder rates of Native American women in some territories are 10 times higher than the national average for all races. (Adobe Stock)

Bill Aimed at Protecting Indigenous Women Gives Natives Hope

RAPID CITY, S.D. -- Native American groups hope the president will sign a measure designed to help law enforcement get a handle on a public safety …

According to a recently approved settlement, five people will each get between $75,000 and $99,000 for unlawful drug testing ordered by a handful of law-enforcement agencies in South Dakota. (Adobe Stock)

Settlement Reached in SD Over Unlawful Drug Tests

RAPID CITY, S.D. -- A settlement tied to claims of unlawful drug tests issued by several South Dakota law-enforcement agencies has won approval in …

A number of states surrounding South Dakota -- including Minnesota, North Dakota and Montana -- have legalized marijuana in some form, while others, like Iowa and Nebraska, have not. (Adobe Stock)

SD Advocates Make Case for Marijuana Ballot Questions

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Those who support a pair of marijuana ballot measures in South Dakota are asking residents to get behind the initiatives when …

According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Juvenile Justice Alternatives Initiative, more than 200,000 young people a year are admitted to detention facilities in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Juvenile-Justice Reform Movement Aided by Detention Decline During Crisis

PIERRE, S.D. -- A downward trend in juvenile-detention populations during the pandemic is renewing hopes among reform advocates. The numbers are …

The Sioux Falls Police Department hopes people file more reports online so that officers can avoid spreading the new coronavirus. (Adobe Stock)

SD Police Agencies Change Procedures to Prevent Coronavirus Spread

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The spread of the coronavirus is changing how some police agencies deal with calls for service, including departments in South …

Sex trafficking is believed to be a $90 billion-a-year industry that exploits more than 20 million adults and children worldwide. (dosomething.org)

Gov. Noem Backs Human-Trafficking Bill Introduced at SD Capitol

PIERRE, S.D. - New laws meant to crack down on human trafficking will be introduced at the South Dakota Capitol today. According to the Human …

The South Dakota Legislature has so far rejected proposals to ban death sentences for people with serious mental illnesses. (worldcoalitionagainstthedeathpenalty.org)

Kahler v. Kansas Death Penalty Case Could Have Ramifications in SD

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A pending U.S. Supreme Court ruling could impact a South Dakota case that shocked the Sioux Falls community in 2016…

Homicide is the third-leading cause of death for Native American and indigenous Alaskan women ages 10-24, and the fifth-leading cause for women ages 25-34. (LorieShaull/Flickr)

Missing, Murdered Indigenous Women Focus of SD Legislation

PIERRE, S.D. – Murder rates for Native American women in some U.S. counties can be 10 times higher than the national average for all races…

A polygamist compound in the Black Hills may be empty, but state lawmakers are considering legislation that could be used to verify births and deaths there, should members of the sect return. (Wikimedia Commons)

SD Lawmakers Go After Polygamist Group with Registration Bill

PIERRE, S.D. - Occupants of a housing compound buried in the Black Hills and associated with a known polygamist sect are the focus of a bill in the …

South Dakota's prison population has increased by nearly 400 men and women over the past two years, according to the state's Corrections Commission. (doc.sd.gov)

New SD Billboards Call Attention to Incarceration Rates

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A new billboard on a busy Sioux Falls street is part of the ACLU of South Dakota's Smart Justice reform campaign, ahead of …

South Dakota could save more than $6 million a year if it reclassified the charge of ingestion of a drug to a misdemeanor. It is currently a felony. (dantes1401/Twenty20)

Will South Dakota Elections Focus on Criminal Justice?

PIERRE, S.D. – What role will criminal justice reform play in South Dakota's elections this year? The ACLU of South Dakota says it should be a …

South Dakota's incarceration rate for drug offenses is lower than most states, but opioid-related deaths are on the rise. (pixabay)

Study Shows Long Prison Sentences Don't Dissuade Drug Users

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A new, 50-state study finds that putting more people in jail for drug offenses doesn't reduce either drug use or overdose …

South Dakota lawmakers are considering a bill to make local power-of-attorney laws more consistent with other states. (wwcares.org)

Improved Power of Attorney Bill Advances at SD Legislature

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota's Power of Attorney document would match more closely those adopted in 25 other states if approved by the state …

Three people currently are on death row in South Dakota, but no execution dates have been set for them. (mprnews.org)

Death Penalty Revision to Be Heard at State Capitol

PIERRE, S.D. – The severely mentally ill would not be executed for committing a capital crime in South Dakota if a bill is passed by the state …

Hospitals in South Dakota and across the country face a shortage of beds for people experiencing mental health crises. (SilasCamargo/Pixabay)

How Can SD Keep People with Mental Health Issues Out of Jails?

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota is one of five states where state law says people experiencing a mental health crisis can be held in a correctional …

Research has shown that positive approaches to youth crime are more effective than punitive measures such as prison at treating kids. (State Farm/Flickr)

SD Conference Focuses on Positive Approaches to Juvenile Justice

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The annual Racial and Ethnic Fairness Conference is taking place in Sioux Falls today, addressing disparities in the …

A 3-year-old boy in Pierre was forcibly catheterized in order to get a urine sample from him. (BENCHAMAT1234/iStockphoto)

Forced Catheterization of Child Leaves Pain, Legal Questions

PIERRE, S.D. - The forced catheterization of a 3-year-old boy in Pierre has left the child in pain and his family with many unanswered legal …

The financial costs of involvement in the juvenile-justice system can be overwhelming for youths and their families. (iStockphoto)

Money for Justice: SD Youth Facing Debtors' Prison

PIERRE, S.D. – When a young person is unable to pay court-related costs, he or she can face what's known as "debtors' prison," a practice a new …

A new report shows that families of incarcerated children have become effective advocates for changes in the juvenile-justice system. (iStockphoto)

Report: Moms, Families Target Juvenile Justice Reforms

PIERRE, S.D. - Families of more than 170 young people in South Dakota will be feeling the pain of separation this Mother's Day weekend because of …

A new report says about 17,000 South Dakota children are facing more obstacles in their young lives as a result of a parent's incarceration. (iStockphoto)

Parents' Prison Time Affects 8 Percent of SD Kids

PIERRE, S.D. - Some "tough-on-crime" policies may be having unintended consequences for thousands of South Dakota children, according to a new Annie …

Advocates for survivors of sexual assault say South Dakota's rape kit testing law falls short by not requiring the state to find out exactly how many kits are sitting untested. (iStockphoto)

Victims' Group: SD Rape Kit Testing Law a Mixed Bag

PIERRE, S.D. - South Dakota's new rape kit testing law is now in effect, but a sexual assault victims' group argues it may not go far enough to …

Death penalty opponents hold a vigil at the South Dakota State Penitentiary on Good Friday. (iStockphoto)

SD Religious Leaders Hold Good Friday Death Penalty Vigil

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - A group of death penalty opponents is holding a Good Friday vigil to protest the use of capital punishment in South Dakota…

Two South Dakota companies and the city of Sioux Falls are being honored for helping employees work out at the workplace. (iStockphoto)

Honoring South Dakota's Healthy Workplaces

PIERRE, S.D. - Two South Dakota companies and a city are being honored today for taking steps to become some of the healthiest workplaces in the …

A new study shows that children with parents in jail have worse outcomes. (Jerry Oster)

Report: Parents' Criminal Records Affect 80,000 South Dakota Kids

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – With the United States leading the world in incarceration rates, criminal justice reformers are targeting an unintended …

South Dakota's last execution was performed in 2012. Credit: Ken Plorkowski/Flickr

Polls Show Dwindling Support for Death Penalty

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The death penalty is in a long, slow decline nationally, according to opinion polls and by how often it's being used…

Inmate phone calls will soon cost a lot less, thanks to the FCC. Credit: Polaskiglass/morguefile

FCC Slashes Expensive Prison Calls

PIERRE, S.D. - Phone calls to and from prison inmates in South Dakota will cost a lot less starting next year. The Federal Communications Commission …

While scams have been around for years, there is very little public information on how to avoid getting ripped off. Picture by Jerry Oster.

Learning From the Best to Avoid Scams

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - For more than four decades, Frank Abagnale, a former con artist, has advised the FBI and other law enforcement agencies on how …

PHOTO: A new report that examines educational programs in juvenile justice facilities finds most are doing more harm than good. Photo credit: Microsoft Images

Report: Education in Juvy Justice Needs Improvement

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - When you have a captive audience, there is great opportunity - but such opportunities are too often not taken advantage of…

PHOTO: Having a parent in prison is more common than childhood autism in the U.S., according to a new report from Volunteers of America that seeks to raise awareness of what life is like for the children and their caregivers. Photo credit: Deborah C. Smith

Report: "Parent in Prison" Brings Challenges for Caregivers

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Having a parent in prison is more common than childhood autism in the U.S., according to a recent report from Volunteers of …

PHOTO: The CDC estimates the costs associated with excessive drinking topped $4.1 billion in Maryland in a single year, 2006. Photo credit: Microsoft Images

CDC Report: Binge Drinking a Budget-Buster for States

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - From the crimes committed by people who are drunk to the health problems and lost work productivity associated with binge …

PHOTO: Chris Newlin is executive director of the National Children's Advocacy Center. About 850 CACs around the U.S. handled 267,000 child abuse cases in 2012. Courtesy of National CAC.

National Symposium on Child Abuse: New Research, More Teamwork

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Professionals in child abuse investigation and treatment are meeting this week in Huntsville, Alabama, including some from South …

PHOTO: A new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows a major change in the number of young people behind bars.

Fewer Young People Ending Up in Jail

VERMILLION, S.D. - A new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows a major change in the number of young people behind bars - but in South …

PHOTO: The Basel Action Network estimates 75 percent of the electronic waste that arrives in Lagos, Nigeria, is not reusable. BAN says too often, as in this photo, it ends up being dumped. Courtesy BAN.

Out with the Old: Recycling Cell Phones, Laptops, TVs...

YANKTON, S.D. - The phrase "Out with the old, in with the new" takes on a whole new meaning when the topic is electronic gear. A new national …

Report: ‘Lock ‘em Up’ Approach to Juvenile Justice Doesn’t Work

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - When youths act up, a new report says, locking them up is the wrong thing to do in most cases. The report from the Annie E…

Adding Teeth to Elder Abuse Laws

PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota Legislature passed a law in 2007 making elder abuse a crime. Now supporters are back in Pierre, working to add …

ID Cards for Illegal Immigrants: A Good Thing?

President Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Wednesday criticized Arizona's law that makes failure to carry immigration documents a crime…

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SD: Criminal Justice