Execute a Free South Dakota Probation Search (Lookup Tools)

Conduct a free South Dakota probation search right away to find out if someone you know has a criminal record.

In South Dakota, there are three forms of community supervision for convicted offenders; these are probation, parole and supervised release. Probation is a form of supervised release imposed instead of a sentence behind bars, while supervised release is part of a prison sentence that’s served after the offender’s release from prison.

Parole differs in that it’s a supervised release granted by the parole board after an offender has been incarcerated for at least a third of their original sentence, and is generally granted for good behavior.

This resource provides clear methods to help members of the public access probation records in South Dakota.

Conduct a South Dakota Probation Search Seamlessly

Public access to records in South Dakota is governed by the state’s Sunshine Law. The law is known as the South Dakota Codified Law Chapter 1-27. These laws enshrine the right for individuals to inspect and copy public records belonging to the state, county or municipality.

The law also lists certain exemptions. A fee may be charged. The public also has the right to access records from federal agencies under the 1967 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

South Dakota has a Unified Judicial System that includes district and magistrate courts.¹ Under South Dakota’s court system, criminal cases are heard in both courts. Magistrate Courts have limited jurisdiction over criminal trials and primarily handle misdemeanors, where sentencing guidelines limit the maximum term of imprisonment to one year.²

The best way to conduct a probation search in South Dakota is to use the Public Access Record Search (PARS) available through the state’s Unified Judicial System.³ This feature provides access to dockets related to criminal and various protection orders.

A fee of $20 is charged for each search, irrespective of whether the search returns any records. The easiest way to search is as a guest and the best way to pay for each search is using a credit card. Search options include the offender’s:

• Last Name
• Alias
• Date of Birth
• Case Type

Search results are generally emailed to the requestor. It may be necessary to conduct more than one paid probation search to find the right information. In this instance, interested parties can register for a draw down account by emailing PARS support at [email protected] or by contacting the State Court Administrator’s Office at:

State Court Administrator’s Office
500 East Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501

Phone Number: 844-504-8174

Another means to find out if someone is on probation is through the Adult Offender Locator offered by the South Dakota Department of Corrections. This search tool is searchable by DOC (Department of Correction) no., offender’s first name or last name.

Search results show a list of offenders with details such as their full name, age, race, physical descriptor, aliases, current facility, parole office and correctional status. “Offender Status” Indicates whether someone is on probation.

For more information, contact the South Dakota Department of Corrections at:

South Dakota Department of Corrections
3200 East Highway 34, c/o 500 East Capitol Ave.
Pierre, South Dakota 57501

Phone: 605.773.3478
Fax: 605.773.6810
Twitter:  @SouthDakotaDOC

Furthermore, probation records are accessible via the South Dakota Public Record Request Portal. Records requested through this can typically be obtained within 10 days of the initial request.

Find South Dakota Probation Details & Statuses via County & Municipal Agencies

There is no public register of offenders on probation in South Dakota, and the various probation offices don’t normally provide this information. The best way to do a probation search in South Dakota is at county and municipal levels by accessing court records.

The South Dakota court system is divided into seven circuits. Each circuit serves one or more counties.

Members of the public can contact the relevant Circuit Court Administrator for information regarding how to conduct a records search in South Dakota. This includes obtaining specific information on offender sentencing and probation within the jurisdiction of that circuit.

Further details may be obtained from the Clerk of the Court of each county within a circuit.⁴ The following table lists the judicial circuits, the counties they serve and the address of each circuit court administrator:

Another way to establish if someone is on probation is to request a background check. South Dakota has a Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system that contains information on misdemeanor and felony arrests, court cases and sentencing.

The South Dakota background check system is based on fingerprints and costs $26.75.⁵ A request for a background check from within the state can be submitted online using a LiveScan machine. Requests from outside South Dakota must be submitted by mail.

How To Contact Someone’s Probation Officer in South Dakota & Look Up Violations

In South Dakota, probation officers work within the Court Services Department of the South Dakota Unified Judicial System. Each circuit operates its probation service, with probation officers stationed in the most populated counties of each circuit.

To report violations or to speak to a probation officer, it’s necessary to conduct a probation search in South Dakota to find the appropriate office. This information is generally available from court records for the circuit. Probationers are required to stay within the boundaries of South Dakota and inform their probation officer before changing their address, residence or employment status.

Probation offices in South Dakota include the following:

Track Down Details of Someone on Parole in South Dakota

Inmates of the South Dakota Department of Corrections are normally eligible for parole after serving a portion of their sentence. Certain categories of offenders are not eligible and must serve their full sentence.

These include most first-degree felonies, aggravated assault and felonies committed using a firearm. The South Dakota Parole Board is responsible for granting parole, and all hearings are open to the public. Meetings must be held at least once every three months. Inmates requesting parole are first notified of the results of their application before the minutes of the meeting are released to the public.

Members of the public can use the Department of Corrections Adult Corrections Offender Location Search Feature to locate inmates.⁸

When searching, they need to fill in one of the following fields:

• Document Number
• Last Name
• First Name

Depending on the search criteria, the search will return a table of offenders meeting the above criteria. Clicking on the document number field will provide additional information including a description of the offender and their aliases. It will also show whether the offender is on parole, the expiry term and their parole office.

The Department of Corrections Parole Services has 11 Parole Services offices, which include the following:

The Parole Board also publishes a list of parole absconders.⁹

Victims of crime and other interested persons can also use the South Dakota Statewide Automated Victim Information & Notification (SAVIN) service to receive notifications regarding any change in offender status including their release from incarceration and parole. Registration is free.

South Dakota’s Sunshine Law enshrines the right of citizens to free access to criminal and arrest records in the state; these laws help interested parties conduct a South Dakota probation search to establish if a friend or person of interest is under this type of supervision within the state.