Justice
Total 102 Posts
Articles and investigations on South Dakota's criminal justice system, from its two growing metro cities to the unique challenges in rural and reservation areas.
Fewer job vacancies in DOC as new women's prison prepares to open
New Corrections report shows reduced openings since pay increase took effect as state agency hires 133 for new Rapid City facility.
ICE's year in SD, from small towns to Operation: Prairie Thunder
Data shows that most recent ICE arrestees in South Dakota are citizens of Mexico and Central America, with the majority coming from Mexico and Honduras, and 98% are male.
Improving open records law in SD an uphill battle for advocates
South Dakota remains "on an island" when it comes to open records laws, which allow police agencies to keep videos they record away from public access and scrutiny.
With discretion left to agencies, police video releases rare in SD
South Dakota departments, by law, don't have to release dashboard or body camera footage. When videos and still images have been released, they tend to justify officer use of force or highlight humorous on-the-job interactions.
Civics and media series
The town halls, discussions and community gatherings are intended to increase civic engagement and help people be informed.
Police videos in SD: Public pays costs but cannot see footage
As more states begin to provide public access to videos captured by law enforcement agencies, South Dakota continues to keep police body and dash cam videos hidden from the view of the public and media.
Treatment courts help reduce South Dakota's prison population
The state is exploring solutions to address recidivism and ease the burden on prisons. Treatment courts show impressive results.