Source: https://njdc.info/practice-policy-resources/state-profiles/southdakota/
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 09:49:26+00:00

Document:
South Dakota provides counsel to indigent youth through a county-based system that can include a public defender, contract attorneys, or privately appointed counsel. S.D. Codified Laws § 23A-40-7. If the county or municipality elects to have an office of a public defender, the public defender must represent any indigent youth arrested or detained for juvenile delinquency. S.D. Codified Laws § 7-16A-9.
South Dakota has no statutorily required or recommended training requirements or standards for attorneys representing youth in delinquency proceedings.
In addition to statutes and case law, juvenile court proceedings are governed by court rules. South Dakota does not have specific juvenile court rules at the statewide level, but S.D. Codified Laws § 26-7A-34(1) provides that juvenile adjudications are governed by the state’s Rules of Civil Procedure.
In South Dakota, youth in juvenile court have the right to counsel in delinquency proceedings and children in need of supervision (CHINS) proceedings. S.D. Codified Laws §§ 26-7A-30, 26-7A-44(2). The court must advise the child and the child’s parent, guardian or custodian of the right to counsel “at the first appearance of the parties before the court.” S.D. Codified Laws § 26-7A-30.
Advisory hearing before adjudicatory hearing. S.D. Codified Laws 26-7A-54(1)(c).
Transfer hearing. People in Interest of L. V. A., 248 N.W.2d 864, 867 (S.D. 1976).
South Dakota has no presumption of indigence in juvenile court proceedings. A child or the child’s parents, guardian, or custodian can request counsel, which will be court-appointed with a showing of insufficient financial means, or if counsel is “necessary to protect the interests of the party.” S.D. Codified Laws § 26-7A-31.
The statutes imply that the parent or guardian is financially responsible for providing counsel for a youth in juvenile court because if the child has court-appointed counsel, a lien is placed upon the parents’ real and personal property “to repay funds paid by the county … or the state for the child,” unless the child is not adjudicated delinquent. S.D. Codified Laws § 26-7A-32.
South Dakota does not have a specific juvenile statute or rule addressing a youth’s waiver of counsel. Case law indicates that a youth can waive the right to counsel if it is knowing and intelligent and if the child is aware of the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation. In re R.S.B., 498 N.W.2d 646 (S.D. 1993).
When and how the court may decide to detain a youth or otherwise place restrictions on the youth’s freedom is defined by statute and court rules. In South Dakota, a detention hearing must occur within 48 hours of the child being detained, excluding weekends and court holidays. S.D. Codified Laws § 26-7A-14. Provisions for the detention of youth are also found in S.D. Codified Laws §§ 26-7A-13.2, 26-7A-15, 26-7A-16, 26-7A-18, 26-7A-21, 26-7A-26, 26-8B-3, 26-8B-7, and 26-8C-3.
Probation violation hearing. S.D. Codified Laws 26-8C-15.
The youngest age at which a youth can be adjudicated delinquent is ten. S.D. Codified Laws 26-8C-2.
Juvenile court has jurisdiction over offenses alleged to have been committed prior to a youth’s 18th birthday; after age 18, the youth is charged in adult court. S.D. Codified Laws 26-7A-1(3), (6).
Juvenile court can retain jurisdiction over youth until age 21, provided that the alleged offense occurred before the youth turned 18. S.D. Codified Laws 26-7A-1(3), (6).
Discretionary transfer: For any felony; there is no minimum age requirement. S.D. Codified Laws 26-11-4.
Reverse transfer: The young person starts in adult court; however, the youth request a transfer hearing to go back to juvenile court and have their matter heard there. S.D. Codified Laws 26-11-3.1.
Once an Adult, Always an Adult (if convicted of the offense): Once convicted as an “adult” the youth will stay in adult proceedings. S.D. Codified Laws 26-11-4.
NJDC has not yet conducted an assessment of the juvenile indigent defense system in South Dakota. If you would like to collaborate with NJDC to fundraise for, plan, or engage in an assessment in this state, please contact us.

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