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South Dakota Public Records

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State of South Dakota Most Updated Online Public and Criminal Records Portal

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Statewide public records directory

South Dakota Official Records, Agencies & Answers

Jump into the four biggest statewide record categories, review the refreshed South Dakota overview pulled from the live database, and open only direct government sources from the directory below.

Top topic Criminal Records Criminal history tools, sheriff links, and related justice records.
Top topic Expungements Record-clearance and expungement guidance.
Top topic Inmate Search Custody, jail, and inmate lookup resources.
Top topic Most Wanted Wanted-person and fugitive resources.
SD

South Dakota public records, redesigned

State of South Dakota Most Updated Online Public and Criminal Records Portal

Updated March 29, 2026

Explore documents, files, transactions, registry and reports for the state of South Dakota. Perform criminal background, and personal history. Verify a Social Security number (SSN). Find documents from courts. Find a marriage license, birth certificate or death certificate. Inquire into a business. Check out South Dakota professional licenses of attorneys, teachers, nurses, and more. Keep an eye on sex offenders in your neigh…

Official sources 27 Direct state links currently rendered on this page
Counties County coverage 66 County-level public records coverage tied to South Dakota
FAQ / Q&A 9 Live statewide answers surfaced from the database
Bonus cities 0 Standalone city record pages currently shown

About South Dakota

Open the dedicated background page for a deeper history, civic overview, and statewide public-records context beyond the agency directory.

Open about page

Explore cities & counties County links 🗺️ Local map

Move deeper into the state structure with the city directory, county access page, and location-specific record hubs without losing the statewide view.

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✨ County picks County directory: open county access
Hub → sub pages

Explore every linked South Dakota specialty page

The hub now links directly to every live state-topic page we found for South Dakota. Use the cards below to jump straight into each specialty area.

11 sub pages linked
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Criminal Records Criminal history tools, sheriff links, and related justice records.
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Expungements Record-clearance and expungement guidance.
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Inmate Search Custody, jail, and inmate lookup resources.
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Most Wanted Wanted-person and fugitive resources.
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Police Police department and public-safety resources.
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County Sheriff County sheriff and detention access points.
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Background Checks Background screening and identity research resources.
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Asset Search Asset, ownership, and locator resources.
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Vital Records Birth, death, marriage, and health-record links.
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Genealogy Family-history and genealogy research tools.
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Missing Children Missing-child alerts and support resources.
Fresh database content

About South Dakota public records

This panel now uses the newer statewide heading content from the database instead of the old generic filler copy.

DB-backed content live

Explore documents, files, transactions, registry and reports for the state of South Dakota. Perform criminal background, and personal history. Verify a Social Security number (SSN). Find documents from courts. Find a marriage license, birth certificate or death certificate. Inquire into a business. Check out South Dakota professional licenses of attorneys, teachers, nurses, and more. Keep an eye on sex offenders in your neigh…

South Dakota is located in the mid-western region of the U.S. and was the 40th territory to become a state in 1889. There are 66 counties functioning as local governments in the state of South Dakota. Agencies carry out many of the state's responsibilities on behalf of the state and local governments. The South Dakota Open Records (SDCL) allows members of the public to request information from their governments for better transparency. Better access to government information presents a tool for journalists to uncover stories of mishanding of public affairs. Concerned South Dakota residents can request to see emp…

State snapshot Did you know? In South Dakota, arrest lookups usually work best from local police to county jail and county court records. Checking those local paths first often saves time. Quick route: county jail and county court pages are often the strongest follow-up after local police records.
Frequently asked questions

About South Dakota public records

Clearer question cards, modern spacing, and the same live statewide answers from the database.

Q What is included in a South Dakota background check?
In South Dakota, background checks are governed by the South Dakota Public Records Law (South Dakota Codified Laws (SDCL) Chapter 1-27). They may include criminal history, sex offender status, court filings, arrest records, and vital statistics. Agencies must respond within No specific statutory deadline. The law is administered by South Dakota Attorney General's Office, 1302 E. Highway 14, Suite 1, Pierre, SD 57501; (605) 773-3215.
Q Where can I find police reports in South Dakota?
Police reports in South Dakota are public records under the South Dakota Public Records Law. Submit your request to the agency that generated the report. Who may request: Any person; however, individuals who are parties to pending. Response deadline: No specific statutory deadline. If access is denied, you may appeal to district or circuit court. Police report requests in South Dakota are processed under the South Dakota Open Records Law (SDCL § 1-27-1). Requesters must provide the incident date, location, and the names of parties involved. The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) administers state trooper report requests from its records office in Pierre, SD. For local reports, contact the municipality or county where the incident occurred. Most agencies respond within 10 business days; certified copies are available for court use.
Q What are the procedures to obtain South Dakota vital records, and what is included in those records with address, not URLs?
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce) in South Dakota are maintained by the state Department of Health or Vital Statistics. Standard fees: Actual cost of duplication; no specific fee schedule in statute. Certified copies carry separate fee schedules. Fee waivers may be available for journalists, nonprofits, and public-interest requesters - always ask.
Q What is the school district and performance data for South Dakota?
The South Dakota Department of Education provides school district performance data for all public schools in the state. The data includes information on student achievement, graduation rates, teacher quality, and other indicators of school performance. The data can be accessed through the South Dakota School Performance website. The South Dakota Department of Education (doe.sd.gov), headquartered in Pierre, SD, is the authoritative source for South Dakota school district performance metrics. Reported metrics include proficiency rates in English language arts and mathematics, English learner progress, science achievement, and school climate indicators. Data is updated annually and can be searched by district, school, or student group on the department's data portal.
Q What is the crime statistics for South Dakota?
According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program, South Dakota had a total of 16,945 reported crimes in 2019. Of those, there were 1,845 violent crimes and 15,100 property crimes. The violent crime rate was 218.2 per 100,000 people, and the property crime rate was 1,845.7 per 100,000 people. Crime data for South Dakota is collected under the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) and reported annually to the FBI. The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) coordinates data collection from local law enforcement agencies across all counties and municipalities in South Dakota. Full statistical breakdowns - including arrest data, clearance rates, and hate-crime incidents - are publicly available through the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI)'s annual crime report published each year for the prior calendar year.
Q If I get arrested in South Dakota where would I go to jail and court? include address.
If arrested in South Dakota, you would be taken to the local county jail. Court appearances are scheduled in the county where the arrest occurred. Under the South Dakota Public Records Law, arrest records and booking information are generally public. Oversight: South Dakota Attorney General's Office, 1302 E. Highway 14, Suite 1, Pierre, SD 57501; (605) 773-3215. Appeals go to district or circuit court.
Q Can I find Public records in South Dakota State Library?
Yes. South Dakota state and public libraries provide access to public records databases. The South Dakota Public Records Law (South Dakota Codified Laws (SDCL) Chapter 1-27) guarantees public access to government documents. Many libraries offer free access to LexisNexis, court records portals, and vital record indexes. Under the South Dakota Open Records Law (SDCL § 1-27-1), South Dakota residents can access public records through state and local libraries. The South Dakota State Library, 800 Governors Dr, Pierre, SD 57501 maintains research collections including historical newspapers, land records, probate files, and legislative archives. Libraries also provide free access to LexisNexis Public Records and other subscription databases not available at home. Reference librarians are available to help navigate South Dakota government records portals and submit public records requests.
Q Where is the South Dakota State Library located?
The South Dakota State Library is located in Pierre, South Dakota. In addition to its main location, the South Dakota State Library coordinates resources and services for public libraries statewide. Patrons can access LexisNexis, ProQuest Historical Newspapers, and PACER court records indexes through the library. Under the South Dakota Open Records Law (SDCL § 1-27-1), government documents are available for public inspection during regular business hours. Reference librarians in Pierre, SD can assist with inter-library loans, records requests, and genealogical research inquiries.
Q South Dakota State fingerprinting office
The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) provides fingerprinting services for individuals who need to be fingerprinted for employment, licensing, or other purposes. The DCI has offices located in Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, and Watertown. In addition to South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) facilities in Pierre, many county sheriff offices and city police departments in South Dakota offer walk-in or appointment fingerprinting. LiveScan electronic fingerprinting is accepted for most South Dakota licensing boards, courts, and employment agencies. The ORI (Originating Agency Identifier) number must be provided by the requesting agency. Fees typically range from $5 to $50 depending on purpose. Results are sent directly to the requester's agency, not to the applicant.
Last reviewed: Mar 25, 2026 Updated: Mar 25, 2026