South Dakota criminal charge
Killing, injury, or interference with a law enforcement support animal prohibited in South Dakota
Killing, injury, or interference with a law enforcement support animal prohibited is a criminal offense under South Dakota law, defined by SDCL § 22-11-36. Its classification is not fixed: South Dakota assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by SDCL § 22-11-36.
What is the penalty for killing, injury, or interference with a law enforcement support animal prohibited in South Dakota?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 2 years (Killing a law enforcement animal — Applies when a person intentionally and unjustifiably kills a law enforcement animal.) | discretionary | SDCL § 22-6-1 |
| Fine | up to $4,000 (Killing a law enforcement animal — Applies when a person intentionally and unjustifiably kills a law enforcement animal.) | discretionary | SDCL § 22-6-1 |
| Jail / prison | up to 1 year (Injury or tampering with a law enforcement support animal — Applies when a person intentionally and unjustifiably causes physical injury to, torments, strikes, disables, or tampers with a law enforcement support animal.; county jail) | discretionary | SDCL § 22-6-2 |
| Fine | up to $2,000 (Injury or tampering with a law enforcement support animal — Applies when a person intentionally and unjustifiably causes physical injury to, torments, strikes, disables, or tampers with a law enforcement support animal.) | discretionary | SDCL § 22-6-2 |
| Jail / prison | up to 30 days (Harassment or interference with a law enforcement support animal or handler — Applies when a person harasses, taunts, or provokes a law enforcement support animal, interferes with the animal while working, or interferes with the handler.; county jail) | discretionary | SDCL § 22-6-2 |
| Fine | up to $500 (Harassment or interference with a law enforcement support animal or handler — Applies when a person harasses, taunts, or provokes a law enforcement support animal, interferes with the animal while working, or interferes with the handler.) | discretionary | SDCL § 22-6-2 |
Applies to current.
How is killing, injury, or interference with a law enforcement support animal prohibited classified in South Dakota?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Killing a law enforcement animal | Class 6 Felony | Applies when a person intentionally and unjustifiably kills a law enforcement animal. | SDCL § 22-11-36undefined |
| Injury or tampering with a law enforcement support animal | Class 1 Misdemeanor | Applies when a person intentionally and unjustifiably causes physical injury to, torments, strikes, disables, or tampers with a law enforcement support animal. | SDCL § 22-11-36undefined |
| Harassment or interference with a law enforcement support animal or handler | Class 2 Misdemeanor | Applies when a person harasses, taunts, or provokes a law enforcement support animal, interferes with the animal while working, or interferes with the handler. | SDCL § 22-11-36undefined |
Common questions about killing, injury, or interference with a law enforcement support animal prohibited in South Dakota
Is killing, injury, or interference with a law enforcement support animal prohibited a felony or a misdemeanor in South Dakota?
It depends on the circumstances: killing, injury, or interference with a law enforcement support animal prohibited ranges from a Class 2 Misdemeanor to a Class 6 Felony in South Dakota under SDCL § 22-11-36.
Killing a law enforcement animal: Class 6 Felony (SDCL § 22-11-36) · Injury or tampering with a law enforcement support animal: Class 1 Misdemeanor (SDCL § 22-11-36) · Harassment or interference with a law enforcement support animal or handler: Class 2 Misdemeanor (SDCL § 22-11-36)
What are the penalties for killing, injury, or interference with a law enforcement support animal prohibited in South Dakota?
Penalties for killing, injury, or interference with a law enforcement support animal prohibited in South Dakota depend on how it is classified — from a Class 2 Misdemeanor up to a Class 6 Felony — with the ranges set by SDCL § 22-6-1 and SDCL § 22-6-2; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which South Dakota statute covers killing, injury, or interference with a law enforcement support animal prohibited?
Killing, injury, or interference with a law enforcement support animal prohibited is governed by SDCL § 22-11-36 (Killing, injury, or interference with a law enforcement support animal prohibited--Felony or misdemeanor).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.