Court Services promotes and provides public safety by supervising offenders, working closely with victims and our community partners. We utilize research based intervention strategies and services to reduce recidivism, promote accountability, & provide opportunities for sustainable positive change for the offenders and the families we serve.
Probation services fall under Court Services in South Dakota. Court Services officers oversee both adult and juvenile probationers, ensuring compliance with court-ordered conditions and facilitating rehabilitation efforts.
It’s important to distinguish probation from parole. While probation is a court-ordered period of supervision in lieu of incarceration, parole involves conditional release from prison and is administered by the South Dakota Department of Corrections.
Probation is a sentence that judges can impose on people convicted of crimes. Probation is typically given to first-time offenders who are convicted of non-violent crimes, allowing offenders to serve their sentence in the community under supervision of a Court Services officer. A sentence of probation may require an offender to serve time in the county jail, pay fines, pay restitution to the victims of their crime, seek counseling for substance abuse or for mental health or family issues or to perform community service work. People on probation remain under the authority of the court. Offenders who violate the conditions of their probation may be returned to court and re-sentenced to prison.
Want to learn more about the Court Services Department? Find details on our mission, vision, ethical guidelines and more.
