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South Dakota criminal charge

Prohibited recording or manipulated image in South Dakota

Current through 2026 South Dakota legislative session

Prohibited recording or manipulated image is a criminal offense under South Dakota law, defined by SDCL § 22-21-4. 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 § 22-21-4.

What is the penalty for prohibited recording or manipulated image in South Dakota?

Penalties for Prohibited recording or manipulated image
PenaltyRangeBasisAuthority
Jail / prisonup to 1 year (Photographing/recording without consent (subd. 1 or 2) - first violation, standard case — First violation of subdivision (1) or (2) where the victim is not seventeen or younger with a perpetrator at least twenty-one.; county jail)discretionarySDCL § 22-6-2
Fineup to $2,000 (Photographing/recording without consent (subd. 1 or 2) - first violation, standard case — First violation of subdivision (1) or (2) where the victim is not seventeen or younger with a perpetrator at least twenty-one.)discretionarySDCL § 22-6-2
Jail / prisonup to 2 years (Photographing/recording without consent (subd. 1 or 2) - victim 17 or younger, perpetrator 21 or older — Violation of subdivision (1) or (2) where the victim is seventeen years old or younger and the perpetrator is at least twenty-one years old at the time of the offense.)discretionarySDCL § 22-6-1
Fineup to $4,000 (Photographing/recording without consent (subd. 1 or 2) - victim 17 or younger, perpetrator 21 or older — Violation of subdivision (1) or (2) where the victim is seventeen years old or younger and the perpetrator is at least twenty-one years old at the time of the offense.)discretionarySDCL § 22-6-1
Jail / prisonup to 2 years (Photographing/recording without consent (subd. 1 or 2) - subsequent violation — Any subsequent violation of subdivision (1) or (2), regardless of victim or perpetrator age.)discretionarySDCL § 22-6-1
Fineup to $4,000 (Photographing/recording without consent (subd. 1 or 2) - subsequent violation — Any subsequent violation of subdivision (1) or (2), regardless of victim or perpetrator age.)discretionarySDCL § 22-6-1
Jail / prisonup to 5 years (Digitally fabricated depiction (subd. 3) — Violation of subdivision (3), involving creation, disclosure, dissemination, distribution, or sale of digitally fabricated material depicting an identifiable individual in nudity or sexual conduct.)discretionarySDCL § 22-6-1
Fineup to $10,000 (Digitally fabricated depiction (subd. 3) — Violation of subdivision (3), involving creation, disclosure, dissemination, distribution, or sale of digitally fabricated material depicting an identifiable individual in nudity or sexual conduct.)discretionarySDCL § 22-6-1

Applies to current.

How is prohibited recording or manipulated image classified in South Dakota?

The classification depends on the circumstances:

Classification variants for Prohibited recording or manipulated image
VariantClassificationWhen it appliesStatute
Photographing/recording without consent (subd. 1 or 2) - first violation, standard caseClass 1 MisdemeanorFirst violation of subdivision (1) or (2) where the victim is not seventeen or younger with a perpetrator at least twenty-one.SDCL § 22-21-4undefined
Photographing/recording without consent (subd. 1 or 2) - victim 17 or younger, perpetrator 21 or olderClass 6 FelonyViolation of subdivision (1) or (2) where the victim is seventeen years old or younger and the perpetrator is at least twenty-one years old at the time of the offense.SDCL § 22-21-4undefined
Photographing/recording without consent (subd. 1 or 2) - subsequent violationClass 6 FelonyAny subsequent violation of subdivision (1) or (2), regardless of victim or perpetrator age.SDCL § 22-21-4undefined
Digitally fabricated depiction (subd. 3)Class 5 FelonyViolation of subdivision (3), involving creation, disclosure, dissemination, distribution, or sale of digitally fabricated material depicting an identifiable individual in nudity or sexual conduct.SDCL § 22-21-4undefined

Common questions about prohibited recording or manipulated image in South Dakota

Is prohibited recording or manipulated image a felony or a misdemeanor in South Dakota?

It depends on the circumstances: prohibited recording or manipulated image ranges from a Class 1 Misdemeanor to a Class 5 Felony in South Dakota under SDCL § 22-21-4.

Photographing/recording without consent (subd. 1 or 2) - first violation, standard case: Class 1 Misdemeanor (SDCL § 22-21-4) · Photographing/recording without consent (subd. 1 or 2) - victim 17 or younger, perpetrator 21 or older: Class 6 Felony (SDCL § 22-21-4) · Photographing/recording without consent (subd. 1 or 2) - subsequent violation: Class 6 Felony (SDCL § 22-21-4) · Digitally fabricated depiction (subd. 3): Class 5 Felony (SDCL § 22-21-4)

What are the penalties for prohibited recording or manipulated image in South Dakota?

Penalties for prohibited recording or manipulated image in South Dakota depend on how it is classified — from a Class 1 Misdemeanor up to a Class 5 Felony — with the ranges set by SDCL § 22-6-2 and SDCL § 22-6-1; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.

Which South Dakota statute covers prohibited recording or manipulated image?

Prohibited recording or manipulated image is governed by SDCL § 22-21-4 (Prohibited recording or manipulated image--Penalty).

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.