How do I find an inmate or search a jail roster?

South Dakota Department of Corrections (SDDOC) (state prisons) / County Sheriff's Office / County Jail (county level - 66 counties) / Tribal Law Enforcement (for tribal detention)

Details

What you need to know

Fee

Online searches free; certified records requests may involve fees ONLINE OPTION: Yes - SDDOC Offender Lookup at doc.sd.gov; county Sheriff websites WHERE TO GO: SDDOC (state prisons); County Sheriff's Office/County Jail (county inmates)

Online Option

Yes - SDDOC Offender Lookup at doc.sd.gov; county Sheriff websites

Where to Go

SDDOC (state prisons); County Sheriff's Office/County Jail (county inmates)

County-specific variations apply

SD's 66 counties each operate their own county jail through the Sheriff's Office. Minnehaha County (Sioux Falls) and Pennington County (Rapid City) have the best online inmate search tools. Many smaller SD counties have very limited online access; direct phone calls to the Sheriff's Office are necessary.

South Dakota Notes

Important state-specific details

SDDOC manages state prisons including SD State Penitentiary (Sioux Falls), Mike Durfee State Prison (Springfield), South Dakota Women's Prison (Pierre), and Jameson Annex; Offender Lookup at doc.sd.gov.
County jails operated by County Sheriffs - separate from SDDOC; recent arrests will NOT appear in SDDOC database.
TRIBAL CONSIDERATIONS: SD has nine recognized tribal nations with significant reservation territories; tribal law enforcement operates independently; tribal detention facilities not accessible through SD state systems.
SD Sex Offender Registry: sor.sd.gov - searchable online.
For visitation, phone calls, sending money, commissary, or mailing to a SD inmate: inmateaid.com has SDDOC and county jail facility details.

Official Source

State office contact

State Office

SD Department of Corrections - doc.sd.gov | (605) 773-3478; Offender Lookup: doc.sd.gov