Pennington County Jail – Rapid City, SD

Pennington County Jail is located in Pennington County and is the main jail for that region. Are you looking for somebody incarcerated at Pennington County Jail? This page gives you info about everything a person needs to know about Pennington County Jailsuch as the following: Find an inmate at Pennington County Jail. How to view Pennington County Jail mugshots. The jail’s address and phone number. Bailing out of jail. Intake procedures and booking. Court information and records. And everything else.

The thought of going to jail is a scary and daunting thought, not only for whoever is incarcerated, but also their friends and family. The purpose of this guide is to give you info you need to make the process a little less stressful. If you have questions, just ask it in the comment section below, and any comments or feedback that might be beneficial to others is appreciated.

Do you have a family member, loved one, or friend that is in jail and don’t know how to contact them?

Has someone who has been arrested and you want to find out what jail they’re in?

To search who’s in jail at Pennington County Jail you will have to click on their website and do an inmate lookup.

The Pennington County Jail Inmate Lookup is a list of persons who are in jail, including status, bail amount, and times you can visit. You can also get info on anybody booked or discharged in the last 24 hours. Inmates are listed alphabetically by their last name. You will be able to get the information faster if you enter their full name, date of birth, or inmate ID Number.

If your friend or family member may be at another jail you can check the other South Dakota county jails in our South Dakota County Jail Guide: List of all county jails in South Dakota

A mugshot, or jail processing picture, is the picture taken by the police when you get processed at jail intake. A mugshot is make of one face photo and a profile photo. Your full name and jail booking number will be in the mugshot, and they’re on file at the jail.

Mugshots of people who have been arrested can be searched online, or you can go in person to the Pennington County Jail. When viewing mugshots online you need to input the prisoner’s full name, and a booking date.

Need to know how to have your mugshot taken down from the Pennington County Jail website? This will be difficult, since your mugshot is public record. To get your mugshot taken down you have to file a Petition to Expunge in court. This means that all of your arrest records would be sealed, so no one will be able to see them. Depending on your situation, this may be a longshot.

For more information about removing your mugshot, the various mugshot sites, and the mugshot removal websites: How To Get Your Mugshot Removed

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Obviously, if you’re locked up, your main thought is about how to get out. After you’ve gone through the intake process, your bail is determined using the bail schedule or the magistrate will decide it. If you don’t get a bail set this might mean that you will either be free to go until your court date, or you have to stay in jail until your trial.

If you are released from jail you will have to agree to be there for your court date, and until that date you can’t leave town.

In most cases, prisoners can earn an early release in exchange for good behavior if they don’t break the rules and area a good inmate while locked up.

If you do exhibit good behavior and the jail believes you can be trusted, you might be allowed to do work release. You will have to go back to the jail each day when you’re finished working, or you might have the chance to live in a halfway house instead of the jail.

Bail is the amount of money that you have to pay to the courts to get out of jail until you go to court. The amount you have to pay depends on how serious your charges are. You will have to pay to the courts 10% of the amount that was set before you can be released from jail. If you don’t go to your scheduled court date, whoever paid your bail will not get their money back.

You must call the jail. If you have all the person’s information, like name, address and date of birth, they will tell you what their bail is set at. Also, you can see the bail amount on the jail website.

Posting bail to get out of jail is never a fun thing, but in some cases, it is very simple to do. First of all, figure out if their bail is a “Cash Bond Only”. If so, you will not be able to use a bail bondsman. Bail can only be paid by cash – they will not accept checks. As soon as you’ve paid the bail bond, the prisoner will get released. If they don’t violate the terms of their bail, the bail money you posted will be returned to you.

If the bail amount is too high, or you just don’t have the money, you should look into the services of a bail bondsman. They will generally charge a fee of 10-15% of the total bail amount, and usually charge a minimum of $100. The money you pay to the bail bondsman is non-refundable and is typically cash only. If the bail is extremely high, the bondsman will usually use assets as collateral in addition to the fee they charge.

You can find a bail bondsman go to: Find a Bail Bondsman in Pennington County

Have you ever hired a bail bondsman for yourself, a family member or friend? If so, leave a comment below and tell your story, and let us know how things turned out.

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• Get Time Off For Good Behavior
• Work Release Programs
• Released For Time Served
• Pre-Trial Release Programs
• Get Out on House Arrest
• Own Recognizance

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The jail intake procedure includes each of the following steps:

• They’ll put you in a holding cell. When the jail is busy, you will have to wait, sometimes for many hours, before you get processed.
• The first step is that you will answer some questions, like what is your full name, your address, date of birth and a contact person.
• They’ll also ask about your medical and psychological history.
• You will be given an inmate ID number.
• You will be fingerprinted.
• You will have your mugshot taken.
• Any personal property you have will get taken away from you and stored until you get released from jail.
• You will get to use the phone so you can contact a member of your family, friend, or bondsman to arrange bail.
• If you think you will get released quickly, you might be able to skip the jumpsuit and keep wearing your own clothes, but if you are not expected to make bail quickly you will have to wear a jail jumpsuit.

Have you ever been booked into jail? If you have, you should tell us what happened. How long did it take? What was your treatment like? Do you have any tips that might help others to get through the process?

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Once you are able to post bail, you will get released from jail. Getting discharged takes from 30 minutes to all day long. Or, simply, the faster bail is posted, the sooner you will get out of jail. Also, it will depend on whether or not you’ve got a cash bond amount or if a judge must decide on the amount of bail to be set. For lesser charges, you will simply be booked and then released on your recognizance without having to pay bail. When you have served out your jail sentence and are given a release date, plan to be discharged at any time that day – but usually in the morning.

issued for your arrest, or if you need to begin your jail sentence, you really should follow the rules and turn yourself in. If it is for a warrant, go down to the jail processing area, and tell an officer that you think there is a warrant for your arrest. They will check to see if you have a warrant, and if they verify that there is a warrant for your arrest, you will be taken into custody. If you are reporting to serve out your sentence, report at the exact time and date that the sentence order states. Ensure that you are not late to report. Just bring approved items when you turn yourself in, such as your driver’s license or even state issued ID, any prescription medication you might take, and the official sentencing order.

To have visitors, you must give each visitor’s full name to the jail in advance of any visit. Your visitor’s information will be put in a log of approved visitors for the inmate. All visitors will be required to provide acceptable photo identification. Anyone arriving late or that is not an approved visitor will not be allowed to visit the inmate.
Visitation procedures change often, so check the official jail site before you try to visit an inmate.

Phone calls that inmates are allowed to make from jail are collect calls or through a pre-paid phone account. Jail phone calls are much more expensive than phone calls made outside of jail. Phone calls are restricted on how often you can use the phone, but you should keep in mind that a long line can form at the phones, because everyone wants to use the phone, too. If you break the rules and are disciplined, phone privileges might get reduced or forbidden completely.

Phone Number: 605-394-6116

Any mail that you send to an inmate must be sent using the actual US Postal Service. You must not use any other method of mail delivery. You have to print the prisoner’s name, inmate number, and jail address on the outside of the letter that you send. Don’t send anything in a box, envelope with padding, plastic or paper bag, or an envelope with metal in it. All mail sent to inmates is opened and read by staff, and will get sent back if they decide it is inappropriate.

Use this address when sending a letter to someone incarcerated at Pennington County Jail:

Pennington County Jail
307 St. Joseph Street
Rapid City, SD 57701

Here is how you should address the letter:

[INMATE’S FULL NAME]
[INMATE ID]
Pennington County Jail
307 St. Joseph Street
Rapid City, SD 57701

The Pennington County Jail mail policy can change, so be sure to double check the official website when you send a letter to an inmate.

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When you’ve been arrested, you should know you still have rights, the first of which is that you have the right to request a lawyer. You won’t get many phone calls in jail, so make sure you get a friend or family member to locate an attorney for you. You might be thinking ‘but do I really need an attorney’ While you are not required to have one, a criminal defense lawyer can advise you of your rights, help protect your interests and help you understand the court system in your county. The quicker you hire a lawyer to represent you and work on your charges, the better.

For more info on this, visit: Find an Attorney

If you cannot afford a lawyer, the courts will assign you a public defender, which is a free lawyer. The Public Defender has a number of staff such as independent investigators, experts in forensics and social case workers. All Public Defenders are full-fledged attorneys that are admitted to the South Dakota State Bar Association and are licensed to represent you in court and practice law.

Have you or someone you know used a Public Defender or court appointed attorney? How did they do?

Court records are public and available to anyone who requests them. They have a file containing a docket and all of the motions, documents, and evidence in your case. You, and anyone else, can access court records via the internet service, or by going to the Pennington County Clerk of Court.

A Clerk of Court is an officer of the court who maintains court records. The Clerk of Court also administer the oath for any court participant who must be under oath, and read the verdict when the jury makes their final decision. All court records from your court case are held at Pennington County Clerk of Court office.

Court costs and court fees are the charges and fees associated with your court case, which include filing fees, motion and claim fees, and court charges. If you cannot afford these fees and have a Public Defender, you can get a waiver for these fees and won’t have to pay them.

The magistrate acts as the judge who presides on your case in court. Magistrate judges do a number of different things, such as setting bail amounts, writing arrest warrants, and overseeing preliminary court proceedings and detention hearings.

A defendant’s pre-sentencing report is prepared to include the defendant’s background information and details of the arrestee’s life and public history, which the magistrate will take into consideration when determining the sentence. Information, details, and character witnesses will be requested from the defendant, their family, and in some circumstances the victim. Be sure to remember that you should request to have your own copy of the pre-sentencing report before you are sentenced, so you have the opportunity to go over it and correct any mistakes in it.

After being convicted of a crime, you will then get sentenced. There are several different options for sentencing, which include community service and probation, to prison or jail time. Depending on the particulars of your trial, the severity of your crime, and any sentencing guidelines that they judge will use, you might get immediately taken into custody, or given a date to turn yourself into jail to serve your jail term according to your sentence.

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Do you want to find out if somebody you know is incarcerated, or has been an inmate in the past?

This is pretty easy to do, simply you need to visit the Pennington County jail website, and search by:

• The inmate’s name.
• Date of birth.
• Their approximate booking date.
• or jail ID.

If you’re not sure if your friend or family member is in jail, you should call the jail find out if they’ve been arrested.

If you have an outstanding warrant, you can access court records online or you can call the jail directly. This requires a first and last name. Or, you can just go down to the jail and ask them. Keep in mind that if there is an arrest warrant out for you, you should be prepared to get taken into custody immediately.

If you have a first and last name, and possibly an arrest date, contact the jail, by phone, in person, or find out online. Records of arrests are a matter of public record and these records are available to anyone.

A Civil Process is when you get served with papers, like a court order. You can find these civil process orders by getting in touch with the Pennington County Sheriff’s office, online or by phone.

All convicted sex offenders must be registered on both a national and state sex offender database. The people listed on these databases have been convicted in a court of law of a sex or kidnapping crime. You can access these listings on the internet, but you should know that you will not be able to find the precise address, but only the neighborhood block that they live on.

Court Records are public records and available to anyone. These records include a case file that includes a docket and all documents and filings filed in the case. You can access the court records on their website, or at the Pennington County Clerk of Court in the jurisdiction where the case was filed.

Every state maintains records of a person’s criminal past. These state databases are linked together so you are able to track criminal backgrounds from other states. Go to courthouse and inquire, or you can check online. It is helpful to know the county the crime was committed in, and in the event that it was in a completely different state, you might have to pay for a more complete search.

A criminal records search you will be able to get a report detailing any arrests, charges, or convictions that may be on a person’s record for crimes, which include:

• DUI or DWI.
• Drug offenses such as possession or trafficking.
• Kidnapping.
• Sexual offenses including rape, assault.
• Violent crimes like assault or murder.
• Theft.

If you do a criminal records check, you generally won’t learn if that person has had:

• Speeding or reckless driving.
• Drivers license suspended or revoked.
• Any accidents.
• Minor infractions or moving violations.
• Parking Tickets.

To search for this kind of information, you must do a search for their driving history.

Have you ever had to look for criminal records online? How easy was it? Did you do your search online or did you have to make a phone call to the jail? Did you get information that was correct? There are lots of reasons that folks look up criminal records and backgrounds, and your story could help other people that are in the same situation.

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Most Wanted

The FBI has their list of the Top Ten Most Wanted Criminals. In Pennington County,The Sheriff’s Department has a list of most wanted criminals, too.

FBI Top Ten Most Wanted List: Link


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Life In Jail / What Its Like

Daily Life

While the prospect of getting locked up in the Pennington County jail is very scary, in time you will get used to the daily routine there. You should expect an alarm to wake up at six in the morning, and next you’ll have roll call. Then you will get breakfast. When you finish eating breakfast you will have to work in the program that has been assigned to you. This could be working in the kitchen, laundry, or some sort of manufacturing job. While this may seem tedious, it may help you when you leave jail, as you are gaining experience in a certain field of work. Other inmates go to school, while some take part in mandated treatment programs. After lunch, there will be another roll call, then back to work. Your evening will be spent either in your cell or a common room. During this time dinner is served and you will be expected to take a shower. After another roll call, it’s lights out. Even though you will be confined to your cell, there may be enough light to read or write letters. Then again, most inmates welcome lights out, and try to get as much sleep as they can.

Most people are frightened at the idea of jail because they don’t know what to expect. If you have spent any time in Pennington County Jail, your experiences would be welcomed, if it can help another person to deal with it.

Dress Code

When incarcerated, all inmates are expected to wear the Pennington County Jail uniform. This is normally a jumpsuit or scrubs. Of note to anyone visiting an inmate – you must be properly dressed. Any clothing considered inappropriate will not be permitted.

How To Send Money to an Inmate

You will have your own ‘bank account’ while in jail. This money is used to purchase items from the Commissary. Family and friends can deposit money into this account for you, and any money you earn while in prison will also be deposited into your account. Outside money can be paid in to your account via a money order, cash or check. If someone sends a check or money order, make sure that they write your inmate ID on it. The maximum amount you are allowed in your account is $290 per month.

The procedure to send money to jail inmates is always changing, so you should visit the the Pennington County Jail website when you send any money.


Commissary

The commissary is the jail store. You can purchase a number of things here, such as toiletries, snacks and writing supplies. Bear in mind that you will probably want to use the commissary daily, and any infractions will get that privilege taken away from you.

Inmate Medications

If you are on any type of prescription medication, you will be allowed to continue taking it while in jail. When you are first processed, you will be asked what medication you take. You will then be referred to the jail nurse or doctor who will be in charge of monitoring your health and prescribing your medication.

Meals

You will get three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. As expected, they are very basic, but healthy. A typical breakfast might be cereal, toast, coffee and fruit. Lunch might be spaghetti, salad, bread and milk. Dinner could be chicken casserole, rice, vegetables, dessert and milk. Contrary to popular belief, prison food has greatly improved over the years, and you might find that it’s not much different from what you would eat at home.

Pods / The Yard

The jail is designed in a ‘pod’ layout, with self-contained housing arranged around an outdoor yard. Each pod has a central control station and a common room, and the inmates take turns in using the yard. The jail is designed this way to keep certain inmates together, and others away from the general population.

Gangs

As with life in general, gangs are a part of prison life. Obviously it is best to avoid becoming a part of this environment as it will only lead to trouble. When you first enter prison, you might find yourself being ‘primed’ to join a gang, or worse, you might get their attention in a negative way. The best thing to do is keep your head down and don’t get involved.


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News and Media

News

Photos / Pictures

Videos


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Jobs

Types of Jobs at Pennington County Jail

The Deputy Sheriff is the second in command at the Pennington County Jail, overseeing the day to day operations and administration of the jail. An inmate is unlikely to have much interaction with the Deputy Sheriff, unless they have committed an infraction. Detention Officers are responsible for the custody and care of the inmates. They maintain order in the jail, and handle security. A Detention Officer is assigned to a certain pod, and therefore is responsible for the same inmates each day. They get to know the inmates on a certain level and are well equipped to handle any problems that may occur.

Apply for a Job at Pennington County Jail

Requirements:

• You have to be over the age of 21.
• You have to possess a High School Diploma or GED
• You have to be a US Citizen.
• You have to pass a Criminal, Credit and Driving History background check.
• You have to pass a drug test.
• You have to have a good level of fitness.
• You have to be in good health.
• You have to have a valid Driver’s License
• An applicant for Deputy Sheriff must possess a Law Enforcement Certification.


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Family Resources

There are resources for families of both the perpetrator of the crime and the victim. The social and emotional impact of crime is far reaching, affecting many. Families can receive professional counseling, court related assistance, social services assistance and help in navigating the criminal justice system.

If you are a family member, which resources did you find to be particularly helpful? Please let us know, as this will be helpful to other families in the same situation.

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Victim Resources

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.

Victim’s Rights

The Victim Rights Act grants victims the following rights:

• You have the right to protection from the accused.
• You have the right to notification.
• You have the right to attend proceedings.
• You have the right to speak at criminal justice proceedings.
• You have the right to consult with the prosecuting attorney.
• You have the right to restitution.
• You have the right to a speedy trial.
• You have the right to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect.

The definition of victim includes:

• Spouses and children of all victims.
• Parents and guardians of minor victims.
• Parents, guardians and siblings of mentally or physically incapacitated victims or victims of homicide.
• Foster parents or other caregivers, under certain circumstances.

There are a number of services and programs designed to help victims and their families. You can find out about these services by contacting the courthouse, or local law enforcement agency.

Victim Notification

The Department of Justice Victim Notification System (VNS) is a system that provides victims with information pertaining to their case and/or any defendants in the case. You will receive a Victim Identification Number (VIN) and a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that will allow you to access VNS via the internet or by phone. Here, you will find information about future court hearings, historical court events, and detailed information about the defendant. This will include criminal charges filed, the outcome of charges, sentence imposed, custody location, projected release date and any other release information. The VNS website is updated daily. You will also receive any ongoing information by mail or email.

Have you, a family member or friend ever used the Victim Notification System? If so, was it effective? Did you get the information in a timely manner? Was the system difficult to use? We would like to hear from you, so please post any comments here.

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Sex Offender Information and Search

All people registered as sex offenders are registered on either a national or state sex offender database. The people on these databases have been convicted of a sex or kidnapping crime. You can access this information online, but bear in mind that you will not get the exact address, rather the block that they live on.

Domestic Violence

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, there are services to help you. Your county will have a Domestic Violence Services office. They provide free and confidential services, such as emergency shelter information, legal advocacy, support groups and domestic violence education. They will work to help you create a safe and violence-free life, and heal from the trauma of abuse.

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.


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Reviews

Reviews of this Jail

Have you ever been incarcerated in Pennington County Jail? Do you know anybody that spent time there? Have you ever been to visit an inmate at this jail?

If yes, then you should tell us about it. Tell us about what you experienced because others can learn what to expect.

Things you can put in the review:

• Conditions at the jail.
• Jail, yard and pod facility and layout
• Jail staff and Guards
• Jail food and commissary
• Visitation Days
• Other Inmates.
• Safety
• Gangs
• Prisoner programs and activities


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Tell Your Story

Anybody that’s ever been locked up has a story about it. Why’d you end up in jail? Did you get fair treatment? How was day to day life at Pennington County Jail? Tell us about the other inmates. How did going to jail affect your life?

Click here to tell your story about Pennington County Jail

Send a Message to Your Cell Mate

Make some good friends in jail? Want to find out how to get in touch with somebody you met when you were locked up? Say hello here, just leave a message below.

Say Hello to people incarcerated at Pennington County Jail


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