State of South Dakota secondary Archives: on Crime
Billie Sutton:
Require mental health evaluations in jails within 21 days
Summary:House Bill 1183: To provide and revise certain provisions regarding mental health procedures in criminal justice.Analysis by ACLU-SD:One bill worth noting is HB 1183--a bill tackling some of the state's major issues
relating to the treatment of mental health in the criminal justice system. This bill made many much-needed changes to the system in South Dakota, including one the ACLU of South Dakota deemed critically important. Previously,
South Dakota left people languishing in jails awaiting mental health services. The new law requires mental health competency evaluations to be completed within 21 days of the court's order. This step brings South Dakota closer to creating a truly fair
criminal justice system.
Legislative Outcome:Passed House 50-17-3 on Feb/23/17; Passed Senate 32-3-0 on Mar/1/17; State Sen. Sutton voted YES; Signed by Governor Dennis Daugaard on Mar/27/17.
Source: ACLU-SD roundup on South Dakota voting record HB 1183
Mar 1, 2017
Daniel Ahlers:
Require mental health evaluations in jails within 21 days
Legislative Summary: House Bill 1183: To provide and revise certain provisions regarding mental health procedures in criminal justice. Analysis by ACLU-SD: One bill worth noting is HB 1183--a bill tackling some of the
state's major issues relating to the treatment of mental health in the criminal justice system. This bill made many much-needed changes to the system in South Dakota, including one the ACLU of South Dakota deemed critically important.
Previously, South Dakota left people languishing in jails awaiting mental health services. The new law requires mental health competency evaluations to be completed within 21 days of the court's order. This step brings South Dakota closer
to creating a truly fair criminal justice system.
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 50-17-3 on Feb/23/17; State Rep. Daniel Ahlers voted YES; Passed Senate 32-3-0 on Mar/1/17; Signed by Governor Dennis Daugaard on Mar/27/17.
Source: ACLU-SD roundup on South Dakota voting record HB 1183
Feb 23, 2017
Dennis Daugaard:
Achieved Level 4 certification for Juvenile Corrections
Our Department of Corrections is doing good work. It has achieved Level 4 certification by the Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators. In 2011, we were the first state in the nation to do this, and last year we maintained this certification
for a second year. I have required our juvenile facilities to be certified by these national, performance-based measures, and I'm proud that DOC has reached this high standard.
Source: South Dakota 2013 State of the State Address
Jan 8, 2013
Dennis Daugaard:
Justice reinvestment: focuses resources on proven tools
This past July, we formed the Criminal Justice Initiative Work Group. Top criminal justice leaders and stakeholders from both parties and all three branches of government, as well as law enforcement, treatment providers, prosecutors, and defense
attorneys all had seats at the table. The charge to this work group could not have been simpler:- Improve public safety.
- Hold offenders more accountable.
- Give us a better return on our criminal justice spending.
The workgroup did not have to reinvent the wheel. In more than 20 states, many of them very conservative states like TX, KY, and SC, have undertaken what they call "justice reinvestment." Justice reinvestment focuses resources on criminal justice tools
that are proven to work. It focuses resources on evidence-based practices--not based on antidotes, not based on intuition, not based on what we think will work, but which has been proven to work elsewhere, and the evidence shows works.
Source: South Dakota 2013 State of the State Address
Jan 8, 2013
Dennis Daugaard:
High rates of incarceration does not increase public safety
[In 2013] I spoke about SD's high imprisonment rate for adult offenders--higher than any of our 6 neighboring states. Continuing on that path would have forced the state to build a new women's prison and a new men's prison within 10 years. Worst of all,
our high imprisonment rate wasn't making the public any safer. Today, because of the Public Safety Improvement Act, the prison population is below initial projections & we saved millions of dollars last year by avoiding the need for a new women's prison.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to South Dakota legislature
Jan 12, 2016
Dennis Daugaard:
Reforms reduced population on parole
Thanks to criminal justice reforms, the parole success rate increased from 37% of offenders in FY12 to 65% in FY15. Today, parolees can reduce the duration of their parole by a month for each month of parole in which they are
100% compliant. In just one year, over 700,000 days of parole credit were earned. That's nearly 2,000 years of parole credits earned.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to South Dakota legislature
Jan 12, 2016
Dennis Daugaard:
Make mugshots and pardon process open to the public
An important component of Better Government is to be more open, accountable, and accessible. We recently launched an online pardon application site--making South Dakota the first state in the nation with a completely online pardon application process.
This year, I will also be supporting the proposal to make booking photographs--also known as mugshots--open to the public, as in most states.
Source: 2017 State of the State address to South Dakota Legislature
Jan 10, 2017
Dennis Daugaard:
Require mental health evaluations in jails within 21 days
Legislative Summary: House Bill 1183: To provide and revise certain provisions regarding mental health procedures in criminal justice. Analysis by ACLU-SD: One bill worth noting is HB 1183--a bill tackling some of the
state's major issues relating to the treatment of mental health in the criminal justice system. This bill made many much-needed changes to the system in South Dakota, including one the ACLU of South Dakota deemed critically important.
Previously, South Dakota left people languishing in jails awaiting mental health services. The new law requires mental health competency evaluations to be completed within 21 days of the court's order. This step brings South Dakota closer
to creating a truly fair criminal justice system.
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 50-17-3 on Feb/23/17; Passed Senate 32-3-0 on Mar/1/17; Signed by Governor Dennis Daugaard on Mar/27/17.
Source: ACLU-SD roundup on South Dakota voting record HB 1183
Mar 27, 2017
Jay Williams:
Our criminal justice system is broken
The American criminal justice system is broken. Mass incarceration is expensive, ineffective, and in desperate need of reform. Additionally, it's a system that disproportionately affects minorities. A person of color should not be more likely
to go to jail than a white person for commiting the same crime, but unfortunately, that is the case today. This kind of institutionalized racism cannot stand. Jay believes in criminal justice reform to fix a broken system.
Source: 2016 South Dakota Senate campaign web JayWilliams2016.org
Apr 1, 2016
Kristi Noem:
We recruited law enforcement officers to move to our state
When the riots and violence started across the country months and months ago, we launched a nationwide campaign to recruit law enforcement officers to move to our state. Hundreds of law enforcement officers responded to our invitation.
And we are so proud to be known as a state that stands and defends the people who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to South Dakota legislature
Jan 11, 2022
Nancy Turbak Berry:
Define hate crimes by sexual orientation or gender identity
Senator Turbak Berry voted YES on SB 156, Expansion of Hate Crime Law. The Bill Failed the Senate 13 - 21. Synopsis: Vote to pass a bill that prohibits specific actions intended to intimidate or harass any person or group because of sexual orientatio
or gender identity. Highlights:- -Specifies actions which are prohibited, including:
- Causing physical injury
- Destroying or defacing real or personal property; and
- Threatening, by word or act, to engage in the aforementioned actions.
Source: South Dakota state legislative voting records
Feb 12, 2009
Nancy Turbak Berry:
Remove requirement that physicians be present at executions
Senator Turbak Berry voted YES on HB 1160, Physician Presence at Executions. The Bill Passed the Senate, 31 - 3. Highlights: - Requires the warden to arrange the witnesses for executions to include the attorney general, the trial judge,
and a member of the news media.
- Removes the requirement that physicians be present at executions and examine the body afterward.
- Requires the warden to prepare and sign a death certificate.
Source: South Dakota state legislative voting records
Feb 14, 2007
Steven Haugaard:
We've neglected budgeting for prisons, probation, parole
We have neglected the necessary budgeting not only for prison security and reform,
but also for probation and parole services that are the key to reducing recidivism.
Source: 2022 South Dakota Gubernatorial website SteveHaugaard.com
Feb 22, 2022
Steven Haugaard:
Require mental health evaluations in jails within 21 days
Summary: House Bill 1183: To provide and revise certain provisions regarding mental health procedures in criminal justice.Analysis by ACLU-SD: One bill worth noting is HB 1183--a bill tackling some of the state's major issues relating
to the treatment of mental health in the criminal justice system. This bill made many much-needed changes to the system in South Dakota, including one the ACLU of South Dakota deemed critically important. Previously, South Dakota left people
languishing in jails awaiting mental health services. The new law requires mental health competency evaluations to be completed within 21 days of the court's order. This step brings South Dakota closer to creating a truly fair criminal justice system.
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 50-17-3 on Feb/23/17; Passed Senate 32-3-0 on Mar/1/17; Steven Haugaard voted YES; Signed by Governor Dennis Daugaard on Mar/27/17.
Source: ACLU-SD roundup on South Dakota voting record HB 1183
Mar 1, 2017
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023