South Dakota legal term
Force in South Dakota Criminal Law
Current through 2026 South Dakota legislative session
In South Dakota criminal law, “Force” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the South Dakota criminal code.
What does “Force” mean in South Dakota criminal law?
(2) "Force," the use of physical effort sufficient to overcome, restrain, injure, or prevent escape; (3) "Mental incapacity," a mental or developmental disease or disability that renders a person incapable of appraising the nature of the person's conduct; and (4) "Physical incapacity," a person's incapability of resisting because the person is unconscious, asleep, or is subject to another physical condition that prevents the person from giving consent or resisting. (SDCL § 22-22-1.5)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
- Abuse of or cruelty to minor as felony
- Accessory to crime
- Criminal entry of a motor vehicle
- Disarming law enforcement officer
- Incitement to riot
- Obstructing law enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency management personnel
- Rape
- Resisting arrest
- Riot
- First degree human trafficking
- Second degree human trafficking
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.