South Dakota Inmate Search
South Dakota does not operate a unified correctional system, which means there is no integrated state-level prison and jail system. South Dakota has eight state prison facilities supervised by the South Dakota Department of Corrections. This includes the South Dakota Women Prison's and Pierre Minimum Center, which house female offenders.
The South Dakota prison system is divided into adult and juvenile corrections. Adult corrections consist of three main prisons, a prison annex, and four community work centers for minimum security inmates and parolees in the community transition program.
The juvenile correction consists of in-state and out-of-state private juvenile centers. The South Dakota Department of Corrections contracts with private facilities for juvenile offenders.
South Dakota Department of Corrections ensures that all correctional facilities are built, maintained, and operated following the law.
There are also 26 local jails serving the 66 counties in the state, which are under the jurisdiction of local law enforcement authorities such as a jail administrator, Sheriff's Office, or Police Chief.
As of 2022, over 3,400 people were incarcerated within the South Dakota prison system, while more than 2,500 inmates were in custody across the county jails in the state. In the same year, South Dakota had an incarceration rate of 370 per 100,000 people.
South Dakota is also home to Federal Prison Camp, Yankton, a federal prison under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The facility, which is located in Yankton, houses 474 inmates.
South Dakota Department of Corrections Inmate Search
The South Dakota Department of Corrections oversees the state's adult prison, juvenile correction, and adult parole systems. The Department determines the availability of state correctional facilities suitable for the detention and confinement of persons held under the authority of state law. It is also responsible for the maintenance and control of state-level prisons, the classification of prisoners, the provision of necessary medical and psychological treatment for prisoners, and the facilitation of fingerprinting in correctional facilities.
The South Dakota Department of Corrections also maintains records of all incarcerated persons in the State's correctional system. Interested persons can search for an inmate using the Department's offender locator. To view inmate records, requesters must provide at least one of the following: the Department of Corrections ID number, and offender's first or last name. Accurate entry will allow requesters to view inmate records such as the inmate's name, age, gender, race, physical attributes such as hair and eye color, custody status, location, and current convictions. Note that the records on the database do not include information about individuals sentenced to county jails.
Find Inmate by Name
The South Dakota Department of Corrections offender locator allows requesters to conduct inmate searches by providing either the inmate's first or last name, or both. First and last name searches generally return all matches whose names match the letters the requester typed.
Find Inmate by Number
The South Dakota Department of Corrections offender locator allows users to search for an inmate using the identification number assigned to them by the Department. It is recommended that requesters provide the accurate ID number for access to the specific inmate records they need. If the exact ID number is unknown or does not return results, requesters may locate the inmate by providing their first or last name.
What Information is Contained in a South Dakota Inmate Record?
South Dakota inmate records are details about an incarcerated person in any correctional facility. These records typically include personal information about an inmate, such as the inmate's full name, age, gender, race, and physical attributes such as hair and eye color.
South Dakota inmate records also include the Department of Corrections ID number, custody status, and details, which specify whether the inmate is under parole supervision, whether the inmate is currently serving their sentence and the facility where they are being held.
Citizens of South Dakota may also find out whether an inmate is under parole or not on the inmate records. A parole is the conditional release of an inmate from custody before the completion of their term of imprisonment.
Finally, South Dakota inmate records contain current convictions, which include a list of offenses for which the inmate was arrested and charged.
South Dakota Inmate Records by Counties
26 local jails are serving 66 counties in South Dakota. Each local jail maintains inmate records of incarcerated persons within the facility. The public can access inmate records at the county level by visiting the county website or contacting the Sheriff's Office or Police Department that operates the jail.
- Aurora County
- Beadle County
- Bennett County
- Bon Homme County
- Brookings County
- Brown County
- Brule County
- Buffalo County
- Butte County
- Campbell County
- Charles Mix County
- Clark County
- Clay County
- Codington County
- Corson County
- Custer County
- Davison County
- Day County
- Deuel County
- Dewey County
- Douglas County
- Edmunds County
- Fall River County
- Faulk County
- Grant County
- Gregory County
- Haakon County
- Hamlin County
- Hand County
- Hanson County
- Harding County
- Hughes County
- Hutchinson County
- Hyde County
- Jackson County
- Jerauld County
- Jones County
- Kingsbury County
- Lake County
- Lawrence County
- Lincoln County
- Lyman County
- Marshall County
- Mccook County
- Mcpherson County
- Meade County
- Mellette County
- Miner County
- Minnehaha County
- Moody County
- Pennington County
- Perkins County
- Potter County
- Roberts County
- Sanborn County
- Shannon County
- Spink County
- Stanley County
- Sully County
- Todd County
- Tripp County
- Turner County
- Union County
- Walworth County
- Yankton County
- Ziebach County
Are Incarceration Records Public Information in South Dakota?

Yes, incarceration records are considered public in South Dakota. As such, citizens can request copies of these records, provided they are not sealed or made confidential by law.
The South Department of Corrections provides access to inmate records, with some restrictions for privacy and security reasons. These records typically include an inmate's personal information, physical attributes, custody details and status, location within the correctional system, and current convictions.
Note that confidential information, such as medical records, is exempt from inmate records.
Federal Prisons in South Dakota
The Federal Bureau of Prisons oversees all federal correctional facilities in the United States. These facilities include United States Penitentiaries, Federal Correctional Institutions, Private Correctional Institutions, Federal Correctional Complexes, Administrative Facilities, Federal Prison Camps, and Former Federal Facilities, which make up the country's federal prison system.
The federal prison system typically handles inmates convicted of federal crimes. All federal offenders in South Dakota are incarcerated at the Federal Prison Camp, Yankton. The facility, which is located in Yankton, South Dakota, serves the South Dakota judicial district and houses 474 inmates.
Frequently Asked Questions about Inmate Records
To request public records from the South Dakota Department of Corrections, interested persons must complete and submit a public records request form online . The request must include relevant information about the record to facilitate a timely response.
You can locate an inmate in South Dakota using the Department of Corrections offender locator. This portal allows users to search for an inmate by providing the individual's first or last name or ID number. Additionally, you can look up inmates in local jails using specific inmate search tools maintained by the jail administrator.
You may request old inmate records from the South Dakota Department of Corrections in person by visiting the main office in Pierre or by calling (605) 773-3478. Note that the South Dakota Department of Corrections offender locator also contains information on individuals who were once incarcerated and have completed their sentence. You can access these records by providing the individual's name or ID number.
To obtain inmate death records in South Dakota, you can request them from the South Dakota Department of Corrections. You can also view inmate death records statistics by downloading the data brief of offender deaths during custody . You can also obtain death records from county offices for inmates who passed away while in county jails.
Inmate information is typically updated promptly on the South Dakota inmate search portal. However, it may take some time for new information, such as transfer or release, to appear in the system.
You can send money to an inmate in any South Dakota Department of Corrections facility by making an online deposit through JailATM.com . Note that personal checks and cash are not acceptable.