A warrant shall be issued only on evidence set forth in an affidavit or affidavits presented to a committing magistrate, which establishes the grounds for issuing the warrant. If the committing magistrate is satisfied that grounds for the application exist or that there is probable cause to believe that they exist, he shall issue a warrant identifying the property to be seized and naming or describing the person or place to be searched. The finding of probable cause may be based upon hearsay evidence in whole or in part. Before ruling on a request for a warrant the committing magistrate may require the affiant to appear personally and may examine under oath the affiant and any witnesses he may produce. Such proceeding shall be taken down by a court reporter, stenographer, or recording equipment and made part of the affidavit. The warrant shall be directed to a law enforcement officer. It shall command the officer to search, within a specified period of time not to exceed ten days, the person or place named for the property specified. The warrant shall be served in the daytime, unless the committing magistrate, by appropriate provision in the warrant, and for reasonable cause shown, authorizes its execution at night. It shall designate a committing magistrate to whom it shall be returned.

Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 23A-35-4

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Hearsay: Statements by a witness who did not see or hear the incident in question but heard about it from someone else. Hearsay is usually not admissible as evidence in court.
  • Person: includes natural persons, partnerships, associations, cooperative corporations, limited liability companies, and corporations. See South Dakota Codified Laws 2-14-2
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • property: as used in this chapter includes documents, books, papers, and any other tangible objects. See South Dakota Codified Laws 23A-35-14
  • Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).

Source: SDC 1939 & Supp 1960, §§ 34.1102, 34.1105, 34.1106, 34.1108; SDCL, §§ 23-15-2, 23-15-9, 23-15-12, 23-15-16; SL 1970, ch 229, § 11 (c) (1); SDCL Supp, § 39-17-124; SL 1972, ch 146, § 1; SDCL, § 34-20B-65; SL 1978, ch 178, § 441.