1. South Dakota: Criminal Justice Reform
Challenges in South Dakota’s Criminal Justice System
SCAO
STATE COURT ADMINISTRATOR’S OFFICE
SD UNIFIED JUDICIAL SYSTEM
June 27, 2017

2. Prison Population
Two new prisons
$207 million dollars by 2022

3. South Dakota: Understanding the Problem (FY 12)
Over 80% of prison admits for new commitments were sentenced for nonviolent offenses, and 60% of prison population was in for nonviolent offenses
Prisoners with drug and alcohol offenses made up one-third of the prison population
80% of probation violators sent to prison were for technical violation-
57% of those were alcohol violations
41% drug violations

4. 32% of Offenders in Prison Sentenced for Drug and Alcohol Crimes

5. Drug Possession Most Common Crime in Prison Population
Top 10 Offenses in Prison
Number in Prison
% of Prisoners
Cumulative %
Average Time Spent in Prison So Far (Years)
POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
437
12%
0.9
GRAND THEFT
314 9%
21%
1.8
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
264 7%
28%
3.7
DWI 3RD OFFENSE
241
35%
0.8
SEX. CONT W/ CHILD < 16
214 6%
41%
5.0
BURGLARY 3RD
183 5%
46%
DWI 4TH OFFENSE
120 3%
49%
FORGERY
105
52%
1.7
ROBBERY 1ST DEGREE
100
55%
4.8
RAPE 1ST DEGREE 99
58%
8.3

6. Highest imprisonment rate of all neighboring states;
No corresponding reduction in crime rates;
Over 50% of female offenders in prison for drug and alcohol crimes;
42% of all parolees return to prison within 3 years.
2/3 are for technical violations

7. Key Challenges
Delivering substance abuse services to a large rural state;
Reducing technical violations
Lack of targeted interventions- specialized supervision programs
Need to establish swift and certain sanctions
Long supervision terms for compliant offenders
Disparate impact on Native Americans
Stress of meth epidemic on the system