South Dakota Background Checks

One of the best aspects of how the government works is the way it handles public records. Anyone can access public records, and no one needs to explain why they want the records. As long as they exist, anyone is allowed to access them.

But for those that were hoping to perform South Dakota background checks, the public records process - as useful as it is - is also very slow, especially for satisfying only small curiosities. Sometimes you simply want to search for someone that is on your mind, and you do not want to fill out paperwork and wait 5 days to get your response. You want to be able to search right away and get answers right away while it is all on your mind.

Public Records Law

Luckily there is another benefit of public records law that you can use to perform South Dakota background checks whenever you need them. That is that businesses have the same rights as individuals, so if a business wants to collect all of the public records they can, they can fill out a request and receive all of that information at once.

As a result, many businesses have opted to collect public records data. They then put that data into a user friendly searchable database, and allow others to look through that data when they want to perform South Dakota background checks on someone in their life. That makes these background checks instant, easy, and a considerable upgrade over the need to fill out endless amounts of paperwork previously in order to retrieve the same data.

South Dakota Criminal Records

The South Dakota Unified Judicial System (SDUJS) website contains a wide variety of information helpful for a South Dakota background check. Court data, bar exam information, public statements and announcements, child support forms and guidelines, and a link to Indian Law are just a few items to be found. Updates are made to the website and pages on a regular basis, ensuring that the South Dakota public always has access to the very latest in court information.

Dating back as far as 1989, the SDUJS contains South Dakota criminal records that encompasses every county within the state. Any record that is not related to juvenile offenses and remain unsealed can be requested. All South Dakota criminal records requests must be made by filling out the appropriate request form available online and sent by mail with a $15 check or money order. If a credit or debit card must be used, the website indicates that contacting the clerk of court will help in facilitating card payments.

Step 1: Fill out the South Dakota Record Search Request form. Click Here.
Step 2: Include payment. Processing fees vary depending on the type of record search you request.
Step 3: Mail the completed form and payment to the address outlined below.

For further information regarding accessing South Dakota criminal records, contact the clerk of court office at the address below:

Jerauld County Clerk of Court
PO Box 435
Wessington Springs, SD 57382-0435
(605) 539-1202 (phone)
(605) 539-1203 fax

Resource Links
South Dakota Criminal and Civil Records
Request Form

South Dakota Court Records

In addition to criminal records, the SDUJS website offers two ways to search for and receive South Dakota court records (civil cases). Civil case information is available statewide as well with this service unless the court case was deemed confidential or was sealed by the presiding judge. All data contained within the SDUJS is from 2003 onward and includes civil money judgments as well.

To conduct an online search, an account must be set with a debit or credit card to create a deposited credit amount. The search also works on a “pay as you go” system, allowing for one-time only database searches. Registration for the system is free; however, searching and retrieving information will cost $15.00 per retrieved record.

For further information regarding accessing South Dakota court records, contact the office at the address below:

Jerauld County Clerk of Court
PO Box 435
Wessington Springs, SD 57382-0435
(605) 539-1202 (phone)
(605) 539-1203 fax

Resource Links
South Dakota Case Records Search

South Dakota Jail Records

As part of the South Dakota Department of Corrections, the inmate search website does not allow for online searches of current or past inmates. The state of South Dakota has conflicting statutes that restrict the release of inmate information. Some of these statutes require notification to victims, while others have caps in place on exactly what information may be released to the general public regarding the inmate in question. Attempts have been made to change the current state of allowed information but thus far have been ineffectual.

To receive information on a current or previously incarcerated inmate with the South Dakota Department of Corrections, users must contact the central records office directly. The information to be released will be highly restrictive based on the requesting party's authority and type of information needing to be retrieved.

To search for jail records do the following:

Step 1: Visit the South Carolina Inmate Search webpage. Click Here.
Step 2: Call the South Dakota Department of Corrections Central Records office at the phone number indicated on their Inmate Search webpage.

For further information regarding accessing South Dakota jail records, contact the South Dakota Department of Corrections at the address below:

South Dakota Department of Corrections
3200 East Highway 34, c/o 500 East Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
Telephone: (605)773-3478
Fax: (605)773-3194

Resource Links
South Dakota Inmate Search

South Dakota Driving Records

The South Dakota Department of Public Safety (DPS) website includes information on drivers licensing, accident records, highway patrol and safety, and emergency services. Additionally, the DPS renders quite a bit of information with regard to Homeland Security, including the current threat advisory level and the mission and purposes of the South Dakota Office of Homeland Security.

The South Dakota DPS complies with the provisions laid out within the Drivers Privacy Protection Act and, as such, limits who may receive personal South Dakota driving records information. To request and receive South Dakota driving records, one of three forms needs to be chosen and filled out – personal, insurance agency or employer, and state or government agency. The latter of these three are not charged the normal $5.00 per record fee.

For further information regarding accessing South Dakota driving records, contact the South Dakota DPS office at the address below:

Cynthia D. Gerber, Program Director
118 West Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
Telephone: (605) 773-6883
Fax: (605) 773-3018

Resource Links
South Dakota Driving Record Information

Additional Resources

South Dakota Sexual Offender Registry
South Dakota Attorney General