Lawyers for the recently created Office of Indigent Legal Services delivered their first oral arguments before the South Dakota Supreme Court on Tuesday in Pierre.
It was a watershed moment for the state’s public defense agency, a $1.5 million, five-attorney operation that the state court system’s leaders expect to deliver a net savings to taxpayers and improved legal services for South Dakotans who have the right to a lawyer but can’t afford one.
Early and absentee voting for the June 2 primary election will be delayed, several election officials in South Dakota said Wednesday.
Early voting is supposed to begin on Friday, but some county auditors across the state alerted the public this week of the delay. No one knew how long the delay will be, but said they hope it will not last longer than April 24.
The delay is due to a shortened window this year between the deadline for candidates to file their nominating petitions and the beginning of early voting.
Continue reading “Early voting for the June 2 election will be delayed, election officials say”
The U.S. attorney’s office for the District of South Dakota brought in more than $9.5 million in fiscal year 2025 through fines, restitution, forfeitures and other enforcement efforts, according to U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons.
In total, the office collected just over $9.5 million and helped recover another $16.7 million working with other U.S. attorneys’ offices and Department of Justice partners.
The League of Women Voters of North Dakota is coordinating with state agencies and jails to make sure people with criminal records know their voting rights.
Under state law, North Dakota residents cannot vote while incarcerated for a felony. They can vote after they’re released, however, as long as they meet all other requirements. People can also vote if they’re serving time for a misdemeanor, or if they’ve been charged but not convicted.
Continue reading “Can felons vote in North Dakota? Democracy group seeks to dispel misconceptions”
A new study from the Justice Center has found that South Dakota’s recidivism rate, the percentage of convicted criminals who reoffend, is the ninth highest in the country, with up to 50% of offenders committing new crimes after release. The state is one of 14 across the U.S. that saw its recidivism rate increase from 2011 to 2021, raising concerns from law enforcement about the challenges of repeat offenders.
Continue reading “South Dakota Recidivism Rate Ranks 9th Highest in US”
An Iowa nurse who has repeatedly faced allegations of stealing from patients is now facing disciplinary charges from the Iowa Board of Nursing.
Jessica Renee Williams, 48, of Des Moines is charged by the board with pleading guilty to, or being convicted of, a crime that is either related to the profession of nursing or is a crime that would affect the licensee’s ability to practice nursing; and with failing to notify the board of a criminal conviction within 30 days. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for June 30, 2026.
Continue reading “Accused of stealing patients’ money, jewelry and drugs, nurse faces sanctions”
On March 11, South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden signed Senate Bill 98, a new law that brings virtual currency kiosk operators within the state’s money transmission licensing framework and imposes a series of anti-fraud and consumer-protection requirements.
The law applies to businesses operating virtual currency kiosks and to certain in-person payment arrangements used to complete virtual currency transactions. It also treats a “virtual currency transaction” as a form of money transmission and adds these kiosk-specific obligations on top of South Dakota’s existing money transmission licensing framework.
Continue reading “South Dakota Enacts Licensing Framework for Virtual Currency Kiosks”
United States Attorney Ron Parsons and South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley held a joint press conference at the Sioux Falls Police Department on Thursday, March 26, 2026, to highlight new federal and state initiatives to combat the serious problem of fraud committed against state and federal governments and government programs.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and South Dakota Attorney General’s Office are working together toward the same goals: protecting taxpayer dollars, ensuring government program funding goes to the people in need of assistance, and prosecuting those who steal from state, federal, or tribal governments. Alongside law enforcement and agency partners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and South Dakota Attorney General’s Office work together to detect, root out, and prosecute fraudulent conduct. Tips and leads from employees, contractors, and concerned citizens are often how fraud is first discovered.
The state of Minnesota has sued the Trump administration, accusing its top law enforcement agencies of withholding evidence from the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and the shooting of Julio Sosa-Celis to protect agents in Operation Metro Surge from potential criminal charges.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, March 24, in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, argues that attempts by state officials to gather evidence into the shootings, including the names of the federal agents involved, have been shut down at the highest levels of the Trump administration.
Continue reading “Minnesota sues Trump administration for evidence in Good, Pretti killings”
Criminal justice has emerged as one of the most wide-ranging and politically charged areas on lawmakers’ agendas in this year’s state legislative sessions. Across the country, legislators are weighing proposals that affect nearly every part of the criminal justice system, including policing, gun policy, solving crimes, sentencing, prison oversight and reentry support.
The breadth of legislation reflects how deeply crime policy intersects with daily life, shaping public safety, civil rights, state spending and the scope of law enforcement. It also comes amid a shifting national conversation about crime itself. While violent crime rose during the pandemic, recent data shows declines in many categories, despite continued public concern.
Continue reading “Criminal justice is a top issue in Iowa legislature this year”