Lawrence County Arrest Records

Committing a crime in Lawrence County, South Dakota, may result in the alleged suspect's prompt transportation to a local police station or jail. When in custody, the arrested party may be booked for the offense, which involves collecting the individual's personal information and fingerprints and entering them into a criminal database.

During booking, the arresting department generates the arrest record, which subsequently serves as an essential document with which the suspect may be charged or sentenced. Arrest records are also useful for tracking offender activity, evaluating a person's suitability for a sensitive position, and maintaining public safety.

However, these records do not definitively prove a person's guilt or indicate that a suspect was later charged with an offense. Where questions of an individual's culpability for an offense arise, one may review the Lawrence County court records instead.

Are Arrest Records Public in Lawrence County?

Yes, arrest records are public documents in Lawrence County. South Dakota's Sunshine Law (Chapter 1-27, SDCL) provides widespread access to the records of governmental entities, including arrest information maintained by Lawrence County law enforcement departments.

However, specific records or information are considered exempt from the public's access, usually where access would compromise an investigation or expose someone to danger. For example, access to juvenile arrest records, identities of protected victims/witnesses, and medical records is restricted.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The following arrest information may be accessible to the public in Lawrence County:

• The full name, sex, and age of the accused
• The time and date of an arrest
• The accused's offense, including the corresponding code of law
• The arresting agency
• Bond amount and type

Lawrence County Arrest Statistics

Recent Lawrence County arrest statistics are available through the South Dakota Attorney General's Criminal Statistical Analysis Center (SAC), which compiles and publishes statewide crime data and trends for all South Dakota counties.

According to data extracted from the SAC's NIBRS portal, the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office reported 94 arrests and an arrest rate of 1008.26 per 100,000 residents in 2024. Of the total arrests, 90 were adult suspects, and the remaining four were juvenile offenders. Further, on-view arrests represented a higher percentage (61.7%) of all sheriff's office arrests. The office's three topmost arrests were for simple assault offenses (32), driving under the influence (DUI) (23), and drug/narcotic violations (8).

On the other hand, the Spearfish Police Department, responsible for policing the county's most populous city, recorded 316 arrests and an arrest rate of 2380.24 per 100,000 residents in 2024. Of the total arrests, 302 were adult arrests, and 14 were juvenile arrests. Similar to the county sheriff's department, peace officers of the Spearfish Police Department made more on-view arrests, which represented 56.3% of the agency's total. Further, DUI (87), drug/narcotic violations (57), and simple assault (35) constituted the most prevalent arrest offenses.

Other agency arrest statistics can be obtained from the NIBRS platform.

Find Lawrence County Arrest Records

Finding arrest records in Lawrence County is relatively simple. Interested individuals can ask an arresting police department to release arrest records under the South Dakota Sunshine Law, for which they will be liable for any associated costs. If the arresting department is unknown, one may begin their search by reaching out to the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office at:

50 Tatanka Drive
Deadwood, SD 57732
Phone: (605) 578-2230

Regardless of the agency being queried, the requester will need specific information to enable staff to locate a record, usually a suspect's first and last name, date of birth, or arrest date.

Still, local police authorities do not keep information on persons sent to a state prison after their court case or transferred to federal custody after their capture. Individuals can access the South Dakota Department of Corrections Offender Locator to look up information about state inmates. On the other hand, the Federal Inmate Locator, provided by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, is an essential resource for locating persons in federal custody.

Free Arrest Record Search in Lawrence County

A free arrest record search in Lawrence County can be conducted by submitting an inspection request to a local police department. When a requester only wishes to hear or examine information in an arrest record, police agencies do not typically assess a charge. However, fees may apply if a record must be reproduced to satisfy a record request.

Additionally, several privately run databases facilitate arrest record searches across numerous U.S. jurisdictions. These databases are hosted on public websites and can be searched with a person's first and last name at no cost. However, users may be charged a fee or a subscription to obtain comprehensive results.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In most cases, arrests in Lawrence County stay permanently on a person's public record. However, subjects who qualify under South Dakota law can limit public access to their records by seeking an expungement order from the court. A former arrestee may also be eligible for automatic expungement under specific provisions—like SDCL 23A-3-34, which permits the automatic removal of certain non-felony charges or convictions once five years have lapsed.

Expunge Lawrence County Arrest Records

Expunging an arrest record in Lawrence County does not imply that the record will be physically destroyed. Per SDCL 23A-3-26, there is no true expungement in South Dakota; instead, an expungement "seals" all documents relating to an individual's detection, arrest, detention, trial, or disposition of a criminal offense.

To expunge an arrest record in Lawrence County, a person must meet any of the criteria stated in SDCL 23A-3-27:

• No accusatory instrument was filed, and one year has passed from the date of arrest
• The prosecuting attorney formally dismissed the case, and one year has passed from the date of dismissal
• At any time after an acquittal, or
• Within a year from the date the prosecuting attorney formally dismissed the case upon demonstrating a compelling necessity.

Eligible parties can file a Motion for Expungement (UJS-391) and other required forms/documentation with the clerk of the court that handled the criminal case. The presiding court may be the circuit or magistrate court in Lawrence, but a petition costs $72 unless the court permits a fee waiver. The expungement forms can be downloaded from the state judiciary's Expungement page, including Form UJS-390, which provides instructions and a checklist for filing a motion for expungement in any South Dakota court.

Anyone who obtains an expungement in Lawrence County can say they have never been arrested, indicted, prosecuted, or sentenced for the related offense.

Lawrence County Arrest Warrants

SDCL 23A-2-2 allows magistrates in Lawrence County to issue arrest warrants to bring someone suspected of a criminal act before the court. These warrants name or describe the accused person and the crime they are alleged to have committed. They also contain the issuing county, issuing date, the issuing authority's signature, the amount of bail (if fixed), and a command for the accused to be taken to the nearest available committing magistrate.

However, state law requires a finding of probable cause before the issuance of an arrest warrant in Lawrence County. "Probable cause" describes a situation where facts or evidence presented by an affiant (the law enforcement officer or prosecuting attorney requesting the warrant) are sufficient to believe that an offense has been committed and that a particular person should be held responsible.

Do Lawrence County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Lawrence County arrest warrants never expire. Once issued, these written orders (or writs) remain valid until executed. However, arrest warrants can be recalled by the court. For instance, when a warrant subject fulfills the underlying obligations, such as paying an outstanding fine or restitution, the court may clear or recall the warrant.