OPEN PUBLIC RECORDS

Because You Need to Know
How to use this page: Pick the record type you need below. Each section names the agency that holds those records and links to the official source — no aggregators, no third-party services. Note that South Dakota's statewide court records search (PARS) is a paid subscription service.

What You Can Find Here

⚖️ Court case records through PARS (paid subscription)
🔍 Arrest records from county sheriffs and municipal police
📋 Criminal history checks through SD DCI
🏛️ Vital records, property records, and open-records requests
Have this ready before you start:
  • Full name of the person or business
  • Case number, if you have one
  • The county where the record was created

How Records Work in South Dakota

South Dakota's court and arrest records run across state, county, and arresting-agency levels, with tribal court jurisdiction on reservation lands adding a separate layer. The state judiciary under the Supreme Court of South Dakota maintains court records through the PARS subscription system. South Dakota DCI at the Attorney General's office holds statewide criminal history. Most local records — deeds, marriage licenses, Circuit Court filings — are held at the county level.

South Dakota has 66 counties organized into seven judicial circuits. Each county has its own Clerk of Courts, Register of Deeds, sheriff, and auditor maintaining separate records. Nine Native American tribal court systems (Cheyenne River, Crow Creek, Flandreau Santee Sioux, Lower Brule, Oglala Sioux, Rosebud Sioux, Sisseton-Wahpeton, Standing Rock, and Yankton Sioux) have jurisdiction on reservation lands — their records and procedures are separate from the state court system and typically require contacting the specific tribal court directly.

Counties in South Dakota

South Dakota has 66 counties. Select one below to find local court, arrest, and court and arrest records.

What this page does not show: Not every record is available online for free. PARS is a paid subscription service. Tribal court records require contacting the specific tribal court directly. Older records may require a Circuit Court clerk's office visit. When in doubt, call the agency directly.

This page is a guide to help you find official records — it is not the official database. All information comes from government sources. Verify details directly with the agency that holds the records.

Last updated: April 24, 2026