Lincoln County Arrest Records

Lincoln County, South Dakota, arrest records provide information on arrest events. The records may include the arrestee’s personal information, address, crime charge and description, and the arrest date and location.

Arrest events occur when law enforcement officers apprehend persons suspected of breaking the law. Such events may include the issuance of arrest warrants and the booking of alleged offenders. Arrest events may end with the detention of arrestees in the Lincoln County Jail.

Local law enforcement agencies in Lincoln County, such as the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, generate and maintain arrest records. The agencies also issue the records to interested persons or entities. For example, you can request police reports from the county sheriff’s office.

Arrest records are important parts of other crime-related documents. For instance, Lincoln County court records may contain information on warrants, charges, and bond amounts. Interested parties can also find such information in inmate records and criminal history documents.

Are Arrest Records Public in Lincoln County?

Yes, most arrest records generated in Lincoln County are publicly available. The South Dakota Codified Laws govern public access to records generated by local and state agencies. Under the law, members of the public can request and obtain records from designated agencies.

On the other hand, agencies must release requested files if the requester fulfills the requirements for obtaining them. Requirements for accessing arrest records may include providing information about requested documents and paying the required fees.

However, the state law prevents public access to certain arrest records. Such records may contain information that is not subject to public disclosure. These exempt arrest records include:

• Arrest information that, if disclosed, will endanger the life or safety of concerned parties.
• Arrest information that is classified as confidential due to a court order.
• Records that contain sensitive medical information.

Lincoln County Arrest Statistics

The South Dakota Office of the Attorney General creates an annual statistics report for arrest events. According to the report, the Lincoln County sheriff’s office conducted 442 arrests between January and December 8, 2024. The agencies made arrests for crimes against persons, properties, and society.

The South Dakota Department of Corrections does not provide county-specific inmate statistics reports. However, the agency reported 3,980 inmates in the state’s correctional facilities.

Find Lincoln County Arrest Records

Lincoln County arrest records are available in crime-related documents, including inmate and criminal history records. For instance, inmate records may provide information on the arrestee’s name, mugshots, criminal charges, arrest date and location, and booking date.

Record seekers can find inmate records through resources provided by local, state, and federal entities. At the county level, the Lincoln County sheriff’s office hosts a searchable portal for arrestees held in the county jail. Inquirers must provide the inmate's name and arrest date to find inmate information.

The South Dakota Department of Corrections maintains information about inmates held in the state’s correctional facilities through the Offender Locator. Inquirers using the portal must provide the inmate's name and DOC number.

Alternatively, interested parties can access inmate information via the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator. Requesters must input the inmate's name or prison-identifying number to find records on the portal.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office offers an alternative method of obtaining arrest records. The agency may issue copies of the records to interested parties. Thus, record seekers must submit a request for the records in person to the agency at:

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office
128 North Main Street
Canton, SD 57103
Phone: (605) 764-5651

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Lincoln County, arrest records will typically remain on your records forever. However, you can petition the court to seal or expunge your record through standard procedures. Note that the court must have jurisdiction over such offenses.

You are eligible to expunge arrest records under these conditions:

• It is more than one year from the arrest date, and no additional charges were filed.
• You received permission from the prosecuting attorney after the attorney formally dismissed the entire criminal case.
• You were acquitted by the court.

Note: Not all offenders are eligible to expunge their records. For instance, violent felonies and sex crimes that involve minors are not eligible for expungement.

Lincoln County Arrest Warrants

A Lincoln County arrest warrant is a court order to detain a suspected offender. Law enforcement officers may get arrest warrants by providing sufficient evidence of a crime or an intention to commit a crime. Upon receiving the complaint, the court magistrate or judge may determine to issue the warrant. Law enforcement officers can conduct an arrest after receiving the warrant.

Per § 23A-2-4 (Rule 4(c)(1)), arrest warrants must contain the following information:

• The defendant’s personal information, including the name or known physical description like height, hair color, and sex.
• The defendant’s known address
• Charges levied against the defendant
• Warrant issuance date and location.
• Court magistrate’s signature.

Do Lincoln County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Lincoln County arrest warrants do not have an expiration date. The records remain valid even after the statute of limitations for the crime has expired. However, warrants become invalid when the defendant is arrested, or the court nullifies the document. Interested parties can search active arrest warrants through the county sheriff’s office or the court that issued them. The South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigations may provide access to active warrants in Lincoln County. Likewise, interested persons can search active warrants through the most wanted list on the Department of Corrections website.