Law Enforcement Division - Warrants Division
The Pennington County Sheriff's Office Warrant Division is commanded by Captain Chris Hislip and includes a Sergeant, three Warrant Deputies and four administrative support staff.
A warrant is a process used to get an individual to appear in court and is usually generated for one of two reasons. A warrant is issued as the result of an investigation in a criminal case; whereas a bench warrant is usually issued by a judge for either failing to appear as promised or failing to pay a fine. Warrants are classified by the State Legislature and are done so by the severity of the crime and the ultimate penalty. The classifications are:
- Petty Offense, e.g. (No seat belt);
- Misdemeanor, (e.g. speeding),
- Felony, (e.g. burglary).
Bonds are required on all warrants to ensure court appearance and can range from a 'no bond' warrant to a bond for the amount of the original charge. Often, a bond in the amount of the original charge can be handled without going to court by signing a power of attorney which allows the Clerk of Courts to enter a plea of 'guilty' and the bond is then forfeited. For any questions concerning warrants, bonds, or the self turn-in process you can call the Warrant Division or, if after hours, you may request to speak with a Deputy Sheriff.
Self Turn-In
If you have a warrant, there is a possibility that you can take care of it without having to be taken into immediate custody.
The Pennington County Sheriff's Office has developed a self turn-in program. This program allows you to turn yourself in on your warrant by coming to the Warrants Division, Monday through Friday (excluding Holidays) between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. to sign up for morning court. The process includes presenting yourself at the warrants window and filling out an information sheet. You will be required to pay a $25.00 cash only non-refundable Sheriff's Office warrant service fee for each warrant processed. Your name will be put on a list to appear in morning court at 10:00 a.m. the same morning. You are not required to post a bond at the time you turn yourself in for morning court. Morning court is held on the second floor of the Pennington County Courthouse.
If you turn yourself in on an Arrest Warrant, fingerprints and/or a photo may be required. This process usually takes up to ten minutes and can be done by the staff at the Warrant Division at the time you turn yourself in for court.
Whether you have a warrant that can be paid and does not require a court appearance or a warrant that you would have to post a bond, you can come to the Public Safety Building anytime, day or night, and a deputy will be glad to assist you in clearing your warrant. You will be required to pay a $25.00 cash only non-refundable Sheriff's Office warrant service fee for each warrant processed.
Warrants Division - Black Hills Fugitive Task Force
The primary agencies that make up the Black Hills Fugitive Task force are the United States Marshal Service and the Pennington County Sheriff's Office. The task force is assisted by many local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
Formed in 2005, the mission of the Black Hills Fugitive Task Force is to pursue and arrest, in a joint coordinated manner, persons who have un-executed state and federal warrants lodged against them. The intent of the joint effort is to remove from the streets, local, state and federal fugitives, thereby improving public safety. The Black Hills Fugitive Task Force has been involved in several large scale enforcement operations including Operation Wolfpack, Operation Falcon II, Domestic Violence roundups as well as Pennington County roundups. The Black Hills Fugitive Task Force also assists several other agencies around the United States in locating and apprehending fugitives who had fled their jurisdiction and entered the State of South Dakota.
Warrant Division - Northwest Shuttle
The Northwest Shuttle began in Washington State in 1979 when a transport officer named Spike Millman organized a meeting between agencies on the east and west side of the state with the idea that through communication and cooperation, each agency could save officer resources by coordinating trips to return fugitives from justice. This original meeting grew to an organized event and the shuttle or "mini-chain" was off and running. The shuttle has grown to include all of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, Minnesota, and parts of California, Arizona, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Utah and has since expanded into parts of Texas.
The shuttle remains a 20 state system of in-state warrant and out-of-state fugitive return built on a handshake and a phone call. There are no federal laws or state statutes that govern shuttle business, only the goal of financially responsible fugitive return and the cooperative efforts and communication of each agency each week and yearly at the regional conference.
If your agency would like to participate...
The Northwest Shuttle co-op is a relay system between Sheriff's Offices and Police Departments throughout participating states. It is designed to transport fugitives from one state to another via the participating agency's normal transport schedules if possible. This relay system allows agencies to extradite more fugitives, clear more warrants, save more budget dollars and man-power hours than by using traditional extradition methods.
There is no formal participation agreement and no membership fee. It is a "gentlemen's agreement" between agencies. The only requirement to belong to the "shuttle" is that your agency reciprocates by assisting in transportation or housing when you are called upon.
All local and state charges against the prisoner must be satisfied prior to placing a prisoner on the "Shuttle". Once the prisoner has waived extradition or has been served with a Governor's Warrant and is ready for transport, there are a few guidelines that need to be followed in order to start transporting the inmate on the "shuttle".
Always remember, this system is built on cooperation and communication. When your agency asks for assistance from the "shuttle", be prepared to go out of your way to assist when it is your turn. Hopefully, more agencies and more states will join in this network to bring more fugitives to justice affordably.
If you are a law enforcement agency and are interested in being an active participant in the Northwest Shuttle or have any questions, you can contact The South Dakota State Northwest Shuttle Coordinator. The coordinator is an employee of the Pennington County Sheriff's Office and can be reached by calling 605-394-6117 or e-mail us using the Contact Us link on the left side of the web page.
