Sioux Falls Arrest Records

Sioux Falls arrest records are documents containing the official reports of arrests carried out by law enforcement officers within the city. According to South Dakota law, police officers can arrest anyone with or without a warrant if they have probable cause to believe an individual has committed a crime. A crime is an act that violates the South Dakota criminal code (SD Law § 23A-3-2.1) or the criminal provision of any other law.

Arrests are primarily governed by the state's criminal procedural laws, which specify the procedures law enforcement officers must follow after arresting a suspect. By the code, where there is sufficient evidence to justify an arrest, arrestees are to be booked and held in the Minnehaha County Jail pending bail or arraignment. The Sioux Falls Police Department typically generates Minnehaha County arrest records to reflect the measures taken after arresting a suspect.

Are Arrest Records Public in Sioux Falls?

Per the South Dakota Sunshine Law (SDCL § 1-27-1), arrest records, including those maintained by police departments in Sioux Falls, are public property. Therefore, anyone can examine or copy arrest records by requesting them from the appropriate custodian. Most arrest records are available online. However, those who wish to inspect physical copies may check with the:

Sioux Falls Police Department
320 W 4th Street,
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Phone: (605) 367-7212

However, portions of arrest records may be redacted or entire records withheld where disclosure does not serve the public's interest. These include:

• Expunged records: arrest records may be sealed or expunged where disclosure affects an individual's reintegration into society.
• Details identifying a crime victim (unless consent is given).
• Records of an arrest incident still under investigation.

Sioux Falls Arrest Statistics

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrest and incarceration statistics, the following arrest incidents occurred in Sioux Falls in 2023: 5 manslaughter, 121 rape, 107 robbery, 555 aggravated assaults, 5288 property crimes, 652 burglary, larceny-theft 4092, 544 motor vehicle theft, and 36 arson.

Address of primary booking and detention facility in Sioux Falls:

Minnehaha County Jail
500 N Minnesota Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Phone: (605) 367-4321

Find Sioux Falls Arrest Records

The Sioux Falls Police Department
The Sioux Falls Police Department is primarily responsible for effecting arrests and charging suspects with criminal offenses in Sioux Falls. Under the South Dakota Sunshine Law (SDCL § 1-27-1), individuals can request arrest records at the Department's office:

Sioux Falls Police Department
320 W 4th Street,
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Phone: (605) 367-7212

They should be prepared to provide the full name of the person arrested, date of the arrest, and the alleged offense.

Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office

The Sheriff's website offers an online resource titled "Who's Behind Bars", which lists offenders currently held in custody and their arrest and booking data. Interested public members can search for an inmate by inputting the inmate's last name and clicking search.

South Dakota Department of Corrections Offender Locator

The South Dakota Department of Corrections has an online tool called the Offender Locator. Individuals can find an offender using their first name, last name, or DOC number. Suppose the offense committed by the arrested individual is a federal offense. In that case, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and other federal law enforcement agencies keep records of arrests made by their officers at the federal level.

Sioux Falls Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

An arrest record in Sioux Falls documents the details of a person's apprehension by law enforcement. These records do not indicate guilt or a criminal conviction. However, they include information about the time, location, and reason for the arrest, as well as the arresting officer's details.

By contrast, a criminal record provides a broader overview of an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system. This includes arrest history, charges filed, court outcomes, convictions, and sentencing details. Sioux Falls criminal records are typically managed and accessible via the Minnehaha County Clerk of Court's Office and the South Dakota Attorney General's Office.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in Sioux Falls?

Details of arrests for misdemeanors and felony charges where the subject was eventually arraigned in court in Sioux Falls are maintained in the State's Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system. Retention is permanent unless a court or competent jurisdiction awards an order for expungement.

Sioux Falls Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is an order from a judge authorizing law enforcement to detain and bring a suspect into custody. In Sioux Falls, arrest warrants are typically issued when law enforcement provides a sworn statement supported by evidence showing probable cause to believe that an individual is responsible for the occurrence of a crime. Warrants are issued for several reasons, including disobedience to a summons, breaking the terms of probation or parole, and where law enforcement has adduced evidence supporting the inference that an individual may be responsible for a crime.

An arrest warrant typically contains the following information:

• The full name of the person being arrested
• The allegations
• The date and time the warrant was issued
• The name and signature of the judge who issued it
• The name of the court or organization that issued the warrant

To find out who has a warrant for their arrest, contact the Minnehaha County Sheriff's Office:

320 West 4th Street
Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104
Phone: (605) 367-4614

Do Sioux Falls Arrest Warrants Expire?

Sioux Falls arrest warrants do not expire and remain active indefinitely until the subject is arrested. However, an arrest warrant may become invalid if a court cancels it or the person named in it dies.

Expunge Sioux Falls Arrest Records

Expungement is not equivalent to record destruction. Instead, expunged records are retained but withheld from public inspection. Arrest records may still be available to criminal justice entities.

Under state law, an arrest record may be eligible for expungement where:

• The arresting agency did not bring any official charges for one year after the arrest date
• The prosecutor agrees to the expungement after dropping the charges
• The person was found not guilty in court

Once individuals confirm that their record is eligible for expungement, they can apply for expungement by filing a motion for expungement with the court clerk and paying the applicable $70 fee. Upon filing, the application is followed by a hearing. Notice must have been sent to the prosecutor 14 days before the hearing date. Hearing can be skipped if the parties agree. If the motion is approved, the court issues an Order for Expungement and sends copies to the Division of Criminal Investigation for further steps.