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South Dakota criminal charge

Unauthorized ingestion of controlled drug or substance in South Dakota

Current through 2026 South Dakota legislative session

Unauthorized ingestion of controlled drug or substance is a criminal offense under South Dakota law, defined by SDCL § 22-42-5.1. 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 § 22-42-5.1.

What is the penalty for unauthorized ingestion of controlled drug or substance in South Dakota?

Penalties for Unauthorized ingestion of controlled drug or substance
PenaltyRangeBasisAuthority
Jail / prisonup to 1 year (First violation — Applies to a first violation of the section.; county jail)discretionarySDCL § 22-6-2
Fineup to $2,000 (First violation — Applies to a first violation of the section.)discretionarySDCL § 22-6-2
Jail / prisonup to 1 year (Second violation — Applies to a second violation of the section.; county jail)discretionarySDCL § 22-6-2
Fineup to $2,000 (Second violation — Applies to a second violation of the section.)discretionarySDCL § 22-6-2
Jail / prisonup to 2 years (Third or subsequent violation within ten years — Applies when a person commits a third or subsequent violation within ten years of their first conviction.)discretionarySDCL § 22-6-1
Fineup to $4,000 (Third or subsequent violation within ten years — Applies when a person commits a third or subsequent violation within ten years of their first conviction.)discretionarySDCL § 22-6-1
Jail / prisonup to 5 years (Violation by inmate in state correctional facility — Applies when the violation is committed by an inmate confined in a state correctional facility.)discretionarySDCL § 22-6-1
Fineup to $10,000 (Violation by inmate in state correctional facility — Applies when the violation is committed by an inmate confined in a state correctional facility.)discretionarySDCL § 22-6-1
Jail / prisonup to 5 years (Violation by person under parole supervision — Applies when the violation is committed by a person who is under parole supervision.)discretionarySDCL § 22-6-1
Fineup to $10,000 (Violation by person under parole supervision — Applies when the violation is committed by a person who is under parole supervision.)discretionarySDCL § 22-6-1

Applies to current.

How is unauthorized ingestion of controlled drug or substance classified in South Dakota?

The classification depends on the circumstances:

Classification variants for Unauthorized ingestion of controlled drug or substance
VariantClassificationWhen it appliesStatute
First violationClass 1 MisdemeanorApplies to a first violation of the section.SDCL § 22-42-5.1undefined
Second violationClass 1 MisdemeanorApplies to a second violation of the section.SDCL § 22-42-5.1undefined
Third or subsequent violation within ten yearsClass 6 FelonyApplies when a person commits a third or subsequent violation within ten years of their first conviction.SDCL § 22-42-5.1undefined
Violation by inmate in state correctional facilityClass 5 FelonyApplies when the violation is committed by an inmate confined in a state correctional facility.SDCL § 22-42-5.1undefined
Violation by person under parole supervisionClass 5 FelonyApplies when the violation is committed by a person who is under parole supervision.SDCL § 22-42-5.1undefined

Common questions about unauthorized ingestion of controlled drug or substance in South Dakota

Is unauthorized ingestion of controlled drug or substance a felony or a misdemeanor in South Dakota?

It depends on the circumstances: unauthorized ingestion of controlled drug or substance ranges from a Class 1 Misdemeanor to a Class 5 Felony in South Dakota under SDCL § 22-42-5.1.

First violation: Class 1 Misdemeanor (SDCL § 22-42-5.1) · Second violation: Class 1 Misdemeanor (SDCL § 22-42-5.1) · Third or subsequent violation within ten years: Class 6 Felony (SDCL § 22-42-5.1) · Violation by inmate in state correctional facility: Class 5 Felony (SDCL § 22-42-5.1) · Violation by person under parole supervision: Class 5 Felony (SDCL § 22-42-5.1)

What are the penalties for unauthorized ingestion of controlled drug or substance in South Dakota?

Penalties for unauthorized ingestion of controlled drug or substance 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 unauthorized ingestion of controlled drug or substance?

Unauthorized ingestion of controlled drug or substance is governed by SDCL § 22-42-5.1 (Unauthorized ingestion of controlled drug or substance--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.