What are Sioux Falls Public Records?
Pursuant to the South Dakota Sunshine Law, Sioux Falls public records comprise any data generated, utilized, stored, filed, or re-produced by government agencies and departments - except where restricted by law. Sioux Falls public records may exist as typewritten or handwritten data, photographs, maps, statistical tables, and graphs. Also, it may exist as information contained in electronic communications such as emails and SMS. Custodian agencies may opt to restrict some parts or whole documents from the public view if it contains:
- Information on an ongoing investigation, such as the personal details of crime victims.
- Trade secrets or commercial and financial information.
- Proprietary information
- Security reports, systems, measures, and procedures.
- Medical records and medical research information.
- Juvenile court records
- Loan and savings association reports
- School reports.
- Hospital inspection and licensing data.
Crime Statistics
The Sioux Falls Police Department is responsible for generating and providing citywide statistics for all arrests and crime trends. It also sends yearly crime reports for inclusion into the FBI's Uniform Crime Report (UCR). Per the 2019 UCR, the city of Sioux Falls recorded a total number of 6,550 reported crimes. This figure consists of 897 violent crimes and 5,653 property crimes. The list of reported violent crimes includes - 4 murder and non-negligent manslaughters, 116 rapes, 68 robberies, and 709 aggravated assaults. Conversely, the reported property crimes include - 695 burglaries, 4,300 larcenies-thefts, 658 motor vehicle thefts, and 29 arsons. Compared to the 2016 UCR, the city of Sioux Falls experienced no increase in the total number of reported crimes. However, slight differences existed between the individual reported crimes. For instance, murder, rape, robbery, burglaries, and arson declined by 33%, 18%,48%, 20%, and 35%, respectively. On the other hand, aggravated assault, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle thefts rose by 13%, 6%, 7%, respectively.
Are Sioux Falls Criminal Records Public?
Not all Sioux Falls criminal records are open and accessible to the public. For instance, the South Dakota Legal Self-Help only provides access to non-confidential criminal records from 1989 to the present. More so, interested individuals and entities may view and obtain criminal records via the online platform at a specified fee.
How to Obtain Sioux Falls Police Reports And Arrest Records
Sioux Falls police reports and arrest records are available on-demand at the Records Section of the Sioux Falls Police Department. To obtain police reports, fill out an online request form detailing your first and last name, your email address, and the purpose of your request.
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Sioux Falls
The South Dakota Office of the Attorney General, via the Division of Criminal Investigations, maintains a searchable online sex offender registry that provides sex offender registration information and compliance status. However, data such as the offender's Social Security Number, DNA sample, victim(s) name, employment, current residences, and school attendances are not public information.
Requesters may search for Sioux Falls sex offender information using text search, neighborhood search, and map search. To obtain sex offender information via text search, input the following details - first and last name, address, aliases, zip code, county, and city. Requesters may opt to include absconded or incarcerated offenders into the search result. To obtain sex offender defender information via map search, requesters may opt to search by offender name, county, and city. To locate registered sex offenders via neighborhood search, fill in one of the following information - first and last name, aliases, address, county, and city, and click the "Search" button. Furthermore, requesters can also search for unlocatable offenders and absconders.
How to Find Sioux Falls Inmate Records
The South Dakota Department of Corrections has an online repository that contains the details of all inmates incarcerated within different correctional facilities across the state. However, this inmate record database does not include the names of offenders sentenced to county jails. Requesters can obtain Sioux Falls inmate records using the inmate's first and last name and DOC#.
How do I Visit an Inmate in Sioux Falls Jail
Families and friends can visit inmates incarcerated at any of the Sioux Falls correctional via remote and onsite visits. To visit inmates via remote means, register an account on the ICSolutions platform. Remote visits via this platform cost $0.35 per minute. More so, visitors using the ICSolutions platform for remote visits are eligible for extended visitation hours and dates. To utilize the onsite or lobby video visitation system, schedule a visit at least four days in advance. In addition to this, provide one of the following government-issued identification - valid passport, a military ID card with date of birth and photo, driver's license, or a state or county-issued ID. The visitation schedule for onsite or video lobby visits is as follows:
- Sunday 7:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
- Tuesday 7:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
- Wednesday 7:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
- Thursday 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Saturday 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
There is no video lobby visitation on Mondays and Fridays. Per the Jail visitation rules, only one visitor can visit an inmate in a day. Lobby visitation has a 30-minute time frame unless approved by the Jail Administrator. In addition to this, visitors must refrain from tampering with the visitation equipment. Contact the front desk officer for assistance when handling visitation equipment. Also, visitors must dress appropriately during visitations - revealing clothing is not permitted. During visitation, visitors can only bring personal effects such as cellphones, keys, and identification documents.
Location of Courts in Sioux Falls
The city of Sioux Falls and Minnehaha County is host to one Circuit Court and one Magistrate Court. The courts' contact details are listed below:
Minnehaha County Circuit Court
425 North Dakota Avenue
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Phone: (605) 367-5900
Fax: (605) 367-5916
Minnehaha County Magistrate Court
425 North Dakota Avenue
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Phone: (605) 367-5900
Fax: (605) 367-5916
Are Sioux Falls Court Records Public?
Not all Sioux Falls court records are accessible to the public. Per the South Dakota Open Records Law, court records involving confidential cases, such as child custody cases, are restricted and redacted from public view.
Can You Look Up a Sioux Fall Court Case Online?
The South Dakota Unified Judicial System (SDUJS) provides online access to Sioux Falls court records. Hence, requesters may obtain these court records by searching SDUJS's online platform. Conversely, requesters may opt to receive Sioux Falls court case records via mail or in-person.
How to Obtain South Dakota Civil Court Case Records
Non-confidential Sioux Falls civil court records from 2003 to the present are available online via the SDUJS's public record search. Civil court records cost $20 for each record search. To obtain Sioux Falls civil court records online, requesters may choose to register an account or search as a guest on the search platform. Alternatively, requesters may request Sioux Falls civil court records by filling out and submitting the Record Search Request Form to the email address: ujsparssupport@ujs.state.sd.us.
How to Obtain Sioux Falls Criminal Court Case Records
Interested persons may obtain non-confidential copies of Sioux Falls criminal court records via the SDUJS's public search portal. Criminal court records from 1989 to the present are available on the platform. To obtain criminal court records, requesters may choose to register an account or search as a guest on the search platform.
Alternatively, requesters may request Sioux Falls civil court records by filling out and submitting the Record Search Request Form to the email address: ujsparssupport@ujs.state.sd.us. Criminal court records attract a $20 fee per search request.
What are Sioux Falls Vital Records?
Sioux Falls' vital records comprise official documentation of life events within the city. Vital records include - but are not limited to - divorce records, marriage records, birth records, and death records. Requesters may obtain vital records from local and state custodian agencies.
Where and How to Obtain Sioux Falls Divorce Records
The South Dakota Department of Health maintains a statewide repository of all divorce events. Hence, requesters may get copies of divorce records from the department via online or mail requests. Requesters must provide a valid photo ID before accessing divorce records. To obtain divorce records in person, fill out, and sign the divorce record application form. Submit the completed form, a photocopy of a valid ID, and the specified fee to the:
VITAL RECORDS
South Dakota Department of Health
207 East Missouri Avenue
Suite 1A
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 773-4961
Fax: (605) 773-2680
Certified and non-certified copies of divorce records cost $15. Requesters may pay for divorce records using a check, money order, credit card, or cash. Only money orders or checks are allowed when requesting divorce records via mail. Requesters may send the completed request form via mail to the State Office at:
VITAL RECORDS
South Dakota Department of Health
207 East Missouri Avenue
Suite 1A
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 773-4961
Fax: (605) 773-2680
Where and How to Obtain Sioux Falls Marriage Records
Interested persons may obtain certified or non-certified copies of marriage records through the South Dakota Department of Health. The Department maintains records of marriage records from 1950 to the present. Requesters may obtain marriage records prior to 1950 from the Minnehaha County Register of Deeds at:
415 North Dakota Avenue
Sioux Falls, SD 57104-2465
Phone: (605) 367-4223
Copies of marriage records are available via in-person or mail-in requests. To get copies of marriage records via mail request, fill out and submit the request application form, attach a copy of a valid ID alongside the specified request fee to the Minnehaha County Register of Deeds or the State Office at:
South Dakota Department of Health
207 East Missouri Avenue
Suite 1A
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 773-4961
Fax: (605) 773-2680
Marriage records cost $15 per copy. Requesters may pay for marriage records using a check, money order, credit card, or cash. Only money orders or checks are allowed when requesting marriage records via mail.
Where and How to Obtain Sioux Falls Birth Records
The Minnehaha County Register of Deeds maintains records of all birth events within the county. Requesters may opt to obtain birth records either via mail requests or in-person requests. To get certified or informational copies of Sioux Falls birth records via mail request, complete and sign the birth request form, attach the specified fee, provide a copy of a valid ID, and submit to the Register of Deeds office at:
415 North Dakota Avenue
Sioux Falls, SD 57104-2465
Phone: (605) 367-4223
To obtain birth records via in-person requests, visit the above-listed address. The Register of Deeds Office only provides eligible requesters (record subject, immediate family members, and authorized agents) with access to birth records. Requesters must provide a valid photo ID before accessing birth records. Birth records cost $15 per copy, and it is payable through money order or checks.
Alternatively, record seekers can also get copies of birth records from the Vital Records Section of the South Dakota Department of Health. To obtain birth records from records via mail or in-person visits, complete and sign the birth request form, attach the fixed fee and a copy of a valid Photo ID, and send to the:
South Dakota Department of Health
207 East Missouri Avenue
Suite 1A
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 773-4961
Fax: (605) 773-2680
Where and How to Obtain Sioux Falls Death Records
The Minnehaha County Register of Deeds is the primary custodian of death events recorded within Sioux Falls. Also, the South Dakota Department of Health maintains records of death events at the state level. Hence, requesters may request birth records from these custodian agencies via mail or in-person visits. To obtain copies of death records via mail, complete and sign the death record request form, attach the money order or check for the request fee, and submit to the:
South Dakota Department of Health
207 East Missouri Avenue
Suite 1A
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 773-4961
Fax: (605) 773-2680
The Minnehaha County Register of Deeds Office
415 North Dakota Avenue
Sioux Falls, SD 57104-2465
Phone: (605) 367-4223
Requesters may also request death records in person by filling out the request form and submitting it to the above-listed addresses. Death records cost $15 per copy, and it is payable through credit card, debit card, money order, and checks.
