Misdemeanors are divided into two classes which are distinguished from each other by the following maximum penalties which are authorized upon conviction:

(1) Class 1 misdemeanor: one year imprisonment in a county jail or two thousand dollars fine, or both;

Attorney's Note

Under the South Dakota Laws, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class 1 misdemeanorup to 1 yearup to $2,00
Class 2 misdemeanorup to 30 daysup to $500
For details, see § 22-6-2
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Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 22-6-2

  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.

(2) Class 2 misdemeanor: thirty days imprisonment in a county jail or five hundred dollars fine, or both.

The court, in imposing sentence on a defendant who has been found guilty of a misdemeanor, shall order, in addition to the sentence that is imposed pursuant to the provisions of this section, that the defendant make restitution to any victim in accordance with the provisions of chapter 23A-28.

Except in Titles 1 to 20, inclusive, 22, 25 to 28, inclusive, 32 to 36, inclusive, 40 to 42, inclusive, 47 to 54, inclusive, and 58 to 62, inclusive, if the performance of an act is prohibited by a statute, and no penalty for the violation of such statute is imposed by a statute, the doing of such act is a Class 2 misdemeanor.

Source: SDC 1939, §§ 13.0105, 13.0607; SDCL § 22-1-5; SL 1976, ch 158, §§ 1-3, 6-2, 6-5; SL 1977, ch 189, § 17; SL 1978, ch 158, § 5; SL 1985, ch 192, § 3; SL 1989, ch 255, § 2; SL 1990, ch 158, § 1; SL 1991, ch 186, § 2; SL 1991, ch 187, § 4; SL 1991, ch 337, § 1; SL 1992, ch 158, § 1; SL 1993, ch 172, § 1; SL 1994, ch 161; SL 1995, ch 120, § 1; SL 1997, ch 126, § 1; SL 1997, ch 143, § 6; SL 2005, ch 120, § 173.