A massive data dump of 11 million criminal offenses reported to the FBI paints a complicated picture of crime in the United States, as well as South Dakota.

In 2022, violent crime overall, which includes homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault, dropped modestly in the U.S. Violent crime was 1.7% lower in 2022 than in 2021, the FBI said.

The data, released Monday, shows South Dakota followed the national trend, with violent crime dropping as other types of crime increased in 2022.

Continue reading “Is crime going up in South Dakota? Some types are, new FBI data shows” →

Government regulators are seemingly as numerous as the stars nowadays, especially in the universe of data incidents. When organizations experience a data incident, they will need to quickly assess what happened, why it happened, and who (e.g., clients, consumers, vendors, employees) was affected. They will also need to chart a course by which they resolve the incident while limiting their legal exposure.

While they do so, they may attract the interest of regulators. As we discussed in part one of this series —”Data protection: One of these incidents is not like the other,” Reuters Legal News and Westlaw Today, Aug. 24, 2023 — regulators take particular interest in a data breach when it involves sensitive data, a large number of consumers, or a vulnerable consumer demographic, among other factors. But who are these regulators? Here are the regulators most likely to come calling.

Continue reading “Your organization has suffered a data incident: Now here are the regulators it will likely encounter” →

As wildfires and extreme temperatures rage across the planet, sea temperature records tumble and polar glaciers disappear, the scale and speed of the climate crisis is impossible to ignore. Scientific experts are unanimous that there needs to be an urgent clampdown on fossil fuel production, a major boost in renewable energy and support for communities to rapidly move towards a fairer, healthier and sustainable low-carbon future.

Many governments, however, seem to have different priorities. According to climate experts, senior figures at the UN and grassroots advocates contacted by the Guardian, some political leaders and law enforcement agencies around the world are instead launching a fierce crackdown on people trying to peacefully raise the alarm.

Continue reading “How criminalization is being used to silence climate activists across the world” →

Policing and criminal justice are two of the issues on the campaign trail ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

The Republican and Democratic contenders differ over how they would handle public safety and criminals. Broadly speaking, Republicans want to increase punishments and policing to address crime while Democrats want to reform the system.

Continue reading “Where the 2024 presidential candidates stand on crime and criminal justice” →

In its first argument of the new term, the Supreme Court heard a case on Monday that explored a provision of a law aimed at reducing prison sentences for certain nonviolent drug crimes.

The case focused on part of the First Step Act, bipartisan legislation passed in 2018 aimed at rolling back tough sentencing laws that had caused the country’s prison population to balloon.

Continue reading “On First Day of New Term, Supreme Court Hears Debate Over First Step Act” →

South Dakota’s Department of Corrections maintains a list of their most wanted fugitives. These five individuals are all wanted for leaving work release programs. If you have any information on their whereabouts, please contact your local authorities.

The following list contains pictures and pertinent details regarding their identities and offenses. This information serves as a means to raise awareness and facilitate their swift capture to ensure public safety.

Continue reading “South Dakota Most Wanted: Walkaways and Parole Absconders” →

While South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem said she was inspecting the state’s National Guard troops in Texas this week, a delegation from the state was set to meet in a trade gathering with buyers, agriculture industry leaders and government officials in Mexico.

South Dakota has significant trade relationship with Mexico, and, according to Noem, an adversarial relationship with Mexican drug cartels she has said bring a large amount of drugs into the state.

Continue reading “Why is South Dakota interested in trade, drugs in Mexico?” →

It’s hard to imagine a less contentious or more innocent word than “and.”

But how to interpret that simple conjunction has prompted a complicated legal fight that lands in the Supreme Court on Oct. 2, the first day of its new term. What the justices decide could affect thousands of prison sentences each year.

Continue reading “Six thousand drug traffickers’ sentences hinge on Supreme Court’s interpretation of ‘and’” →

In arguments before the Eighth Circuit Wednesday, lawyers for the state of Iowa fought to uphold two state laws designed to protect livestock production facilities from undercover investigations aimed at publicly exposing animal cruelty.

In defending the 2021 statute that makes it a crime to use a camera or electronic surveillance device while trespassing, Deputy Attorney General Leif Olson told the panel of judges that trespassers cannot cloak their illegal actions in the practice of journalism.

Continue reading “Iowa defends ‘ag-gag’ laws before federal appeals court” →

Governor Kristi Noem has appointed Robert “Bob” Perry as Secretary of the Department of Public Safety. Craig Price, the current secretary, will retire from state government.

Perry’s appointment will be effective on Sept. 22.

“Craig Price has been an outstanding leader and public servant throughout his law enforcement career. His experience, insight, and discernment have been incredibly valuable to me while serving as governor,” said Noem. “We have seen many unprecedented challenges over the past several years here in South Dakota including floods, storms, violent protests, and a worldwide pandemic. Craig was always a steady hand who brought calm to every situation and focused on finding solutions. He has been one of my closest advisors and a dear friend. He has my highest respect. May God richly bless him in his retirement from the State of South Dakota.”
Continue reading “Robert Perry named South Dakota Secretary of Public Safety” →