North Dakota officials on Tuesday described new legislation as improving “off-ramps” from the criminal justice system, with one of the off-ramps coming before offenders get into the court system.

“We know that people who get into the criminal justice system tend to stay there,” said Tom Erhardt, director for parole and probation within the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. He said by improving the off-ramps, it will reduce the number of crime victims, reduce the number of repeat offenders and save the state money.  Continue reading “North Dakota laws address avoiding criminal charges, improving life after jail” →

State and federal officeholders celebrated Wednesday in Washington, D.C., after prosecutors dropped criminal charges against a South Dakota ranch couple accused of using public land without permission or payment.

Meanwhile, basic questions went unanswered.

Will the couple continue to use the land? Will they have to start paying a fee? Or is it their land?

Continue reading “Fate of public land dispute remains unclear as politicians cheer dismissal of ranchers’ charges” →

The South Dakota Highway Patrol has announced that sobriety checkpoints will be conducted in 14 different counties throughout the state during May.

These checkpoints are scheduled to take place in the counties of Brown, Charles Mix, Codington, Hughes, Jerauld, Jones, Lawrence, Meade, Minnehaha, Moody, Pennington, Roberts, Spink, and Yankton.

Continue reading “SD Highway Patrol Announces Sobriety Checkpoints in 14 Counties for May, Including Codington” →

Iowa’s top prosecutor is proposing an amendment to the state constitution to solve what one lawmaker called an “interesting conundrum,” weighing a person’s constitutional right to confront their accuser in the courtroom against the desire to protect traumatized children and vulnerable people.

But some worry the proposal could hinder a defendant’s rights in court.

Continue reading “Iowa considers changing constitution on how traumatized witnesses testify in court” →

The Minnesota criminal justice system was created in 1857. There were 42 attorneys in the State. Lawyers just practiced “law” — every kind of law. Today, the Minnesota Bar recognizes 11 specialties. A lawyer can be good at two, three, maybe four different kinds of law; however, the one thing I can guarantee you is: If a lawyer says they practice all kinds of law, they engage in malpractice every day.

78% of Minnesota cases are criminal cases. We have 283 trial judges in the state. 39% had experience only as a prosecutor before they became a judge. Imagine being an innocent defendant facing such a judge. 34% never tried a criminal case before they became judges.

Continue reading “Minnesota needs criminal bar and bench reform” →

After years of failed starts, the Iowa Legislature has finally sent legislation banning the handheld use of cellphones while driving to Gov. Kim Reynolds.

The Iowa House passed Senate File 22 on a 84-11 vote Wednesday. The legislation is an expansion of Iowa’s current laws banning texting while driving to cover any handheld use of a cellphone. Drivers could still use a device in hands-free or voice-activated modes under the legislation.

Continue reading “Bill banning handheld cellphone use while driving heads to governor’s desk” →

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has joined a coalition of 51 Attorneys General from across the nation in a bipartisan effort to crack down on illegal robocalls. The group has sent warning letters to nine voice service providers, notifying them that they may violate state and federal laws by continuing to route these unlawful calls across their networks.

In a statement released by his office, Attorney General Jackley emphasized the detrimental impact of these calls on the public. “These companies allow scams of all kinds to be passed on to the public,” said Attorney General Jackley. “This activity has to stop, and the Attorneys General are working to help their federal law enforcement partners.”

Continue reading “South Dakota Attorney General Joins Bipartisan Effort to Combat Illegal Robocalls” →

The South Dakota Unified Judicial System (UJS) is alerting the public to a jury duty scam targeting individuals in central South Dakota.

The Stanley County Sheriff’s Office has received over 30 reports today of suspicious phone calls in which scammers falsely claim the recipient has missed federal jury duty and now has a $2,000 arrest warrant. The callers are instructing people to send money via Bitcoin at local convenience stores. One victim reported losing $4,000.

Continue reading “South Dakota Judicial System Warns of Jury Duty Scam” →

South Dakota’s annual Point-in-Time (PIT) homeless count identified 1,431 individuals experiencing homelessness on a single night in January, with a notable increase in those living unsheltered. However, specific numbers for Watertown were not available from the count, and local officials caution that the one-day snapshot presents challenges for accuracy, particularly in colder states.

The count, conducted on January 28th by the South Dakota Housing for the Homeless Consortium (SDHHC), aims to provide an annual snapshot of homelessness across the state. It includes people in shelters, transitional housing, agency-paid motels, and those unsheltered in vehicles, outdoors, or other places unfit for habitation. This data is used for measuring homelessness trends locally, statewide, and nationally.

Continue reading “Point-in-Time Count Shows Rising Homelessness in South Dakota, with Record Unsheltered Rates” →

A Missouri woman has admitted that she committed a crime when she lied about the status of a chimp named Tonka.

Tonia Haddix pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to two counts of perjury and a count of obstruction of justice. All are felonies. Sentencing is currently set for July 16.

“Individuals go to court to seek justice,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith said to reporters outside the courthouse in downtown St. Louis after Haddix’s plea hearing. “There can only be justice from the court if those individuals are honest.”

Continue reading “‘Chimp Crazy’ star Tonia Haddix admits to federal crimes for lying about Tonka” →