South Dakota uses separate court and fingerprint-based criminal-history systems
South Dakota criminal records are not kept in one public database. The South Dakota Unified Judicial System provides public court-record access, while the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) maintains the state’s fingerprint-based Computerized Criminal History repository. Prison and parole information comes from the Department of Corrections, and sex-offender registration is maintained through a separate public DCI registry.
Start by choosing the record that answers your actual question
A court case, a DCI criminal-history record and a prison record are three different things. Searching the wrong system is one of the main reasons people believe a record is missing.
Court case record
Use for filed criminal cases, court activity, charges, dispositions and other public court information.
State criminal history
South Dakota’s fingerprint-based central criminal-history repository containing qualifying arrest, court and correctional data.
Arrest or incident record
Law-enforcement records usually originate with the agency that made the arrest or investigated the incident.
Prison / parole record
Use for public information about qualifying offenders under South Dakota DOC supervision.
Sex offender registration
Public registry information for individuals required to register under South Dakota law.
Federal criminal case
Federal prosecutions are separate and are generally searched through PACER rather than South Dakota UJS.
Use PARS for a statewide South Dakota criminal court summary
The South Dakota Unified Judicial System operates Public Access Record Search (PARS) for statewide public court-record searches.
PARS can be used to obtain a summary of public criminal court information about yourself, another individual or a business.
Open official UJS Court Records SearchOpen the UJS Court Records Search page
Use the South Dakota Unified Judicial System rather than a commercial background-search site.
Select the PARS criminal-record option
PARS provides statewide summary criminal-court information when the record is publicly accessible.
Enter the person’s identifying information
For a statewide criminal record search, full name and date of birth are important because UJS searches are designed to match the identifying information provided.
Pay the search fee
PARS charges for the search when it is submitted, regardless of whether a matching public record is returned.
Review the summary
Use the case information in the result to identify the court and determine whether you need a fuller file or certified copy.
Move to the courthouse when you need the full record
Public courthouse terminals and the Clerk of Courts can provide access to open records beyond the statewide summary.
PARS currently costs $20 per name search
South Dakota UJS currently charges $20 for each PARS search. The charge applies when the search is submitted and is still charged when the search returns no records.
| Search | Current UJS fee | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide criminal search | $20 per name | Public criminal court information from January 1989 to present, unless sealed or otherwise restricted. |
| Statewide civil search | $20 per name | Public civil information from January 2006 to present. |
| Search connected with qualifying pending state/federal litigation | $5 | Requires certification that the search is connected to the qualifying action. |
| Named party / legal representative / qualifying agency | May qualify for no-fee request | Eligibility is governed by UJS rules and SDCL 16-2-29. |
For frequent searches, UJS also offers a drawdown account option. The court lists UJSPARSsupport@ujs.state.sd.us for PARS assistance.
Use eCourts when you want to view a public case summary
South Dakota UJS also provides eCourts, which allows public users to view summary information for public cases by searching with a party name or case number.
UJS states that registration is free and confidential. A user account is required to access the public eCourts system.
Open South Dakota eCourtsPARS vs eCourts
| Tool | Best use | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| PARS | Statewide criminal-record search / background-style court summary | $20 per submitted name search. |
| eCourts | Viewing summary information for public cases | Public account required; registration is free. |
| Courthouse terminal | Broader access to open electronic court records | Available at South Dakota courthouses. |
| County Clerk of Courts | Full file, older records and record copies | Especially important for records before 1989. |
Already know there is a case? Check the court date separately
South Dakota UJS operates a free Find Your Court Date tool. It can be useful when the main question is when a criminal matter is scheduled rather than whether the person has a statewide court history.
The tool supports searching by a party’s name and date of birth or by case number.
Find a South Dakota court dateCriminal cases before 1989 require a different search path
South Dakota’s statewide PARS criminal coverage begins with January 1989.
For a criminal matter filed before 1989, UJS directs users to the Clerk of Courts in the county where the case was filed.
How to get the full court record or certified copies
PARS provides a summary. If you need the actual court file, pleadings, judgment, sentence, certified disposition or another document, contact the Clerk of Courts responsible for the case.
UJS explains that most court records can also be accessed from public terminals at courthouses. Older files that were never scanned may require a direct Clerk of Courts search.
Before contacting the clerk, collect:
- full defendant name
- date of birth if known
- county where the case was filed
- court case number if known
- approximate filing year
- specific document needed
Court transcripts are different from ordinary file copies. UJS states that transcripts usually must be requested from the court reporter who handled the proceeding, and the Clerk of Courts can help identify the correct reporter.
Every South Dakota courthouse offers a public access terminal
South Dakota UJS provides public-access computer terminals at courthouses for viewing electronically available open court records.
These terminals are particularly useful when:
- a summary is not enough
- you need to inspect the electronic docket
- remote access is more limited than courthouse access
- a document exists but cannot be viewed remotely
- you need help identifying the correct county file
South Dakota law also permits courts, in appropriate circumstances, to restrict a particular record so that it is publicly accessible only at a court facility rather than remotely.
Juvenile criminal cases are not part of public UJS searches
UJS expressly states that its public criminal-record resources are for adult matters. Juvenile cases are confidential and are not included in ordinary public record searches.
South Dakota DOC also restricts juvenile-offender information. Juvenile corrections information generally requires appropriate authorization or a court order.
Some South Dakota court records are sealed or otherwise restricted
South Dakota’s general court-access rule says court-record information is public unless access is prohibited or restricted by statute or court rule.
SDCL Chapter 15-15A identifies categories of information excluded from public access. Courts may also limit certain public access to the courthouse when good cause exists.
South Dakota DCI maintains the fingerprint-based criminal-history repository
The South Dakota Attorney General’s Division of Criminal Investigation Identification Section serves as the state’s central repository for criminal-history records.
Its Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system contains data on subjects arrested for qualifying misdemeanors and felonies in South Dakota that move through the state courts, along with penitentiary entries and follow-up criminal information.
DCI says its criminal-history records are 100% fingerprint based.
Arrest identity
Fingerprints help ensure criminal-history events are matched to the correct person rather than merely a similar name.
Sentencing data
DCI has electronically interfaced with South Dakota courts for sentencing information since 1994.
Central history
DCI receives qualifying criminal-history data and serves as South Dakota’s criminal-record repository.
How to obtain your own South Dakota criminal-history record
DCI offers a Personal/State Only background check for an individual who wants a copy of their South Dakota criminal-history record.
This is a fingerprint-based check, making it more reliable for your own identity than a court-name search.
Create or sign into the DCI background-check account
Use the official South Dakota DCI background-check request process.
Choose Personal / State Only
This option is intended for a person requesting their own South Dakota criminal-history record.
Complete the request and authorization
The background-check process requires the subject’s authorization and release.
Pay the current $30 DCI fee
DCI lists a $30 fee for a Personal/State Only background check. Fingerprinting-location fees can be additional.
Print the receipt
DCI instructs applicants to bring the receipt to the Live Scan fingerprint location.
Submit fingerprints
Contact the participating local Live Scan or law-enforcement agency to confirm fingerprinting availability and local fees.
South Dakota also accepts fingerprint background checks by mail
DCI’s mail instructions provide another route for a state-only personal criminal-history check.
DCI says it will conduct the South Dakota search and return either the criminal-history record found or a letter stating that no criminal history was found.
What the state-only response does not include
- federal criminal charges
- out-of-state criminal information
- juvenile offenses unless prosecuted as an adult
- sealed records
- minor traffic violations
State + FBI checks are limited to authorized purposes
DCI can also process combined South Dakota and FBI fingerprint background checks, but these are not simply public nationwide searches anyone can order for any purpose.
DCI explains that state-and-FBI checks are conducted for employment, certification or licensing purposes when the requesting South Dakota agency has statutory authority and the appropriate FBI ORI.
Current DCI pricing is:
| Check type | Current DCI fee | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Personal / State Only | $30 | An individual requesting their own South Dakota criminal history. |
| Agency / State + FBI | $50 | Authorized employment, certification or licensing requests. |
PARS and DCI answer different questions
One of the most important South Dakota distinctions is the difference between a court record search and a fingerprint-based criminal-history check.
| Feature | PARS / UJS | DCI Criminal History |
|---|---|---|
| Source | South Dakota courts | Division of Criminal Investigation repository |
| Main purpose | Public court-record summary | Fingerprint-based state criminal history |
| Public third-party search | Yes, for qualifying public court records | Personal/authorized processes differ; not a simple public name portal |
| Identity matching | Name and DOB | Fingerprint-based |
| Statewide criminal date range | January 1989 to present through standard PARS search | Based on qualifying criminal-history repository records |
| Full court pleadings | Not necessarily in PARS summary | No |
Arrest reports and local police records are separate again
A criminal court search does not automatically provide the police report, arrest narrative, incident report or local investigative file.
Those records generally originate with the law-enforcement agency that handled the incident:
- city police department
- county sheriff’s office
- South Dakota Highway Patrol
- another investigating agency
If you are looking for a police or arrest report, identify the arresting or investigating agency first and use that agency’s official public-record request procedure.
Use the South Dakota DOC Offender Locator for prison and parole information
The South Dakota Department of Corrections maintains an official Offender Locator for public correctional information.
Open South Dakota DOC Offender LocatorDOC says much of the public offender information permitted under SDCL 24-2-20 is available through its website.
This can be useful for questions involving:
- state prison custody
- DOC identification information
- correctional supervision
- parole-related status when publicly available
- facility information
DOC also notes that it does not maintain arrest-booking photos created by local law-enforcement agencies. Its photographs relate to offenders sentenced to prison.
South Dakota’s public sex-offender registry is a separate DCI system
The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation operates the state’s public Sex Offender Registry.
South Dakota law makes qualifying registration information public, subject to statutory exclusions such as protected victim information and certain personal identifiers.
Open South Dakota Sex Offender RegistryDCI also warns users that a positive name or appearance match does not conclusively identify someone as the registrant. Fingerprints are the most reliable way to establish identity.
Registry information must not be used to threaten, intimidate or harass registrants or their families.
Expungement, sealing and pardons can affect what appears publicly
South Dakota provides several forms of criminal-record relief. The effect depends on the legal process used.
Record relief through court process
Eligibility and effects depend on South Dakota statutes and the particular criminal matter.
Public access restriction
Some records may be sealed or restricted from public access without erasing every government record.
Executive clemency
South Dakota maintains a separate pardon process through the Board of Pardons and Paroles and Governor.
DCI advises people seeking expungement or pardon information to review South Dakota law and, when necessary, consult a private attorney. DOC maintains the state’s pardon information and application resources.
South Dakota pardon informationFederal criminal records require a separate federal search
South Dakota UJS and DCI records do not replace federal court records. If a case was prosecuted in federal court, use the federal judiciary’s PACER service.
When you know the federal court, search that court directly. If you do not know the filing court, PACER’s nationwide Case Locator can help identify it.
For a person’s own fingerprint-based FBI Identity History Summary, use the FBI’s official Identity History Summary process rather than a South Dakota state-only background check.
Search federal court cases FBI Identity History SummarySouth Dakota DCI Identification Section location
The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation lists its office at:
Criminal Justice Training Center
1302 E Highway 14, Suite 5
Pierre, SD 57501-8505
Routine business: (605) 773-3331
South Dakota criminal-record search tips that save time
Use PARS for statewide court history
If the goal is a statewide criminal-court summary, PARS is the clearest UJS route.
Know the 1989 cutoff
Standard statewide criminal searches cover January 1989 forward. Older cases go back to the county clerk.
A “no result” still costs $20
Check spelling and DOB carefully before submitting a paid PARS search.
Aliases can cost more
UJS treats separate names as separate search entries on the statewide request form.
Your own record? Use fingerprints
A DCI personal check is stronger for identity matching than a name-only court search.
Need the document? Go beyond PARS
PARS is a summary. Use courthouse terminals or the Clerk of Courts for full records.
County jail is not DOC
Recent local custody often requires a sheriff or detention-center search rather than the state offender locator.
Juvenile cases are confidential
They do not appear in ordinary South Dakota public court-record searches.
Check disposition, not just charge
The final court outcome matters more than an arrest or initial allegation.
Common questions about South Dakota criminal records
1. Is there a statewide South Dakota criminal court search?
Yes. The South Dakota Unified Judicial System operates Public Access Record Search (PARS), which provides statewide summaries of qualifying public criminal court information.
2. How much does a South Dakota PARS criminal record search cost?
UJS currently charges $20 per submitted name search. The fee applies even when the search returns no matching record.
3. How far back does the statewide South Dakota criminal search go?
Standard statewide criminal court searches cover public criminal cases from January 1989 to the present unless the case is sealed or otherwise restricted.
4. How do I search a South Dakota criminal case filed before 1989?
Contact the Clerk of Courts in the county where the case was filed. South Dakota UJS directs users to the county clerk for older criminal files.
5. Is eCourts free?
South Dakota UJS says public eCourts registration is free and confidential. An account is required to view public case-summary information.
6. How do I obtain my own South Dakota criminal history?
Use the Division of Criminal Investigation Personal/State Only fingerprint-based background-check process. DCI currently charges $30, plus any separate local fingerprinting fee.
7. Does a South Dakota state-only background check include FBI records?
No. DCI’s state-only personal check does not include federal or out-of-state criminal information. State + FBI checks are processed for qualifying authorized purposes, while individuals can obtain their own FBI Identity History Summary directly through the FBI.
8. Are juvenile criminal records public in South Dakota?
No. South Dakota UJS states that juvenile cases are confidential and are not included in ordinary public criminal court-record searches.
9. Where can I find someone in a South Dakota state prison?
Use the South Dakota Department of Corrections Offender Locator. County jail detainees should be searched through the relevant county sheriff or detention center instead.
10. Does a sex-offender registry search show someone’s full criminal history?
No. The South Dakota Sex Offender Registry only addresses qualifying registration information. It is not a substitute for a statewide court search or fingerprint-based criminal-history check.
Official South Dakota sources used for this guide
- South Dakota Unified Judicial System — Cases and Records
- South Dakota UJS — Court Records Search / PARS
- South Dakota eCourts
- South Dakota UJS — Find Your Court Date
- South Dakota UJS — Court Finder
- South Dakota UJS — Court Case FAQs
- South Dakota Attorney General — DCI Identification Section
- South Dakota DCI — Computerized Criminal History
- South Dakota DCI — Background Check Requirements
- South Dakota DCI — Background Check by Mail
- South Dakota Sex Offender Registry
- South Dakota Department of Corrections — Offender Locator
- South Dakota DOC — Information Requests
- PACER — Federal Court Records