{"id":376307,"date":"2023-11-28T12:38:09","date_gmt":"2023-11-28T17:38:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/south-dakota-law\/south-dakota-district-attorneys.html"},"modified":"2023-11-28T12:38:09","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T17:38:09","slug":"south-dakota-district-attorneys","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/south-dakota-law\/south-dakota-district-attorneys.html","title":{"rendered":"South Dakota District Attorneys"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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South Dakota District Attorneys<\/h1>\n
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\n By Eric Harvey, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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States vary in what they call a district attorney. Each state decides the area for which each district attorney is responsible. In South Dakota, D.A.s are called "state’s attorneys." <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

A district attorney (D.A.) is the chief prosecutor for the local government. Essentially, the district attorney is the lawyer representing "the people" in criminal proceedings<\/a>. State’s attorneys are each responsible for a different county.<\/p>\r\n

South Dakota Attorney General<\/h2>\r\n

The South Dakota Attorney General<\/a> (A.G.) is the top legal officer of the state. In addition to serving as a legal advisor to the state’s legislature and agencies, the attorney general also represents the state in cases in which it’s named as a party. Under such circumstances, the Attorney General handles civil cases\u2014and not just criminal ones.<\/p>\r\n

Both attorneys general and state’s attorneys oversee the administration of the criminal justice system in South Dakota. The state’s attorneys’ offices handle the prosecution of criminal offenses in their respective jurisdictions. As publicly elected officials, they are supposed to serve the interests of the public, including public safety. Examples of criminal offenses under most states’ criminal laws, including those of South Dakota, are the following:<\/p>\r\n