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Court Services Mission, Strategies, Ethical Guidelines

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Learn about the mission, strategies and values that guide the South Dakota UJS Court Services Division and its personnel.

Court Services Division Mission Statement

Court Services Division's mission is to serve the citizens of the state of South Dakota by preventing crime and repairing the harm caused by crime. We promote and provide 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, and provide opportunities for sustainable positive change for the offenders and the families we serve.

Guiding Principles to Carry Out Mission Statement

  • Our employees are our most valuable resource for accomplishing our mission.
  • Community protection can best be achieved by a role that balances supervision and supportive case management.

Vision

  • To maintain probation as a cost-effective alternative to a Department of Corrections placement.
  • To develop community based programming that will reduce recidivism of offenders by incorporating research-based practices through competency development and elimination of antisocial attitudes, values and beliefs.
  • To maintain a validated, nationally-recognized offender classification system to address offender needs and community safety.
  • To assist victims of crime through restitution collection, community service and mediation.

Values

To reach our vision and accomplish our mission, the Court Services Division will be guided by the following principles:

  • Professionalism
  • Reliability
  • Honesty
  • Excellence
  • Collaboration/Partnerships

Court Services Division Ethical Guidelines

Court Services personnel follow ethical guidelines when interacting with court services, clients and the community. Select a heading below to learn more about each.

Court Services Personnel:

  • Shall strive to provide the highest caliber of services to the Court and the Judiciary through preparation of quality reports, testimony, investigation and supervision.
  • Shall not discriminate against any colleague or other professional on the basis of race, sex, age, creed, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability.
  • Shall maintain respect for his/her fellow professionals and work together for enhancement of quality of service to clients.
  • Shall not use their position for personal gain nor accept or elicit anything of value including gifts, loans, privileges or advantages.
  • Shall not make judgments/recommendations beyond the scope of employment for which he/she is professionally qualified.
  • Shall at all times conduct themselves in a manner that upholds the dignity of the Court and comply with all policies, procedures and personnel rules of the Unified Judicial System.

Court Services Personnel:

  • Shall protect the confidentiality of their clients, at all times, in accordance with applicable law and Unified Judicial Policies and Procedures.
  • Shall conduct their duties in a manner that will not violate the civil and legal rights of clients.
  • Shall not discriminate against any client on the basis of race, sex, age, creed, religion, national origin, physical, mental, or medical, disability or economic status.
  • Shall not let personal opinion/beliefs impair their objectivity in the performance of their duties.
  • Shall exert their best effort to achieve the full intent of the Court for clients.
  • Shall exert their best effort in promoting the best interest and welfare of the client.

Court Services Personnel:

  • Shall seek community protection from offenders; using supervision techniques in accordance with legal, policy and procedural means.
  • Shall respect the public right to information and share that information with community/victims to the extent permitted by law and Unified
    Judicial Policy while recognizing the client’s right to confidentiality.
  • Shall, when directed by the Court, give reasonable attention to the victim/community restoration.