Marty Jackley

The Senate floor in the South Dakota Capitol at Pierre. (Joshua Haiar/SD Searchlight)

Truth in sentencing bill advances to full Senate

BY: - February 7, 2023

A bill to lengthen prison stays for violent offenders earned an endorsement from all but one member of the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday morning. Senate Bill 146 saw testimony from nine supporters beyond its prime sponsor, Sen. Brent Hoffman, R-Sioux Falls, including police chiefs, sheriffs and Attorney General Marty Jackley. The bill would abolish parole […]

The South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, as seen on Jan. 9, 2023. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight)

First of multiple ‘truth in sentencing’ bills to see debate Tuesday morning

BY: - February 6, 2023

Repeat offenders and people who commit violent crimes would serve more time if lawmakers pass one of the “truth in sentencing” bills on the legislative docket this session. Sen. Brent Hoffman, R-Sioux Falls, worked with Minnehaha County State’s Attorney Daniel Haggar and other criminal justice officials to draft Senate Bill 146. The bill is set […]

The South Dakota Capitol building in Pierre. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

Jackley: Hold abusers accountable for manipulation

BY: - January 19, 2023

Abusive partners could face a decade in prison for trying to convince their significant others to change their story, under a bill promoted by Attorney General Marty Jackley. Senate Bill 50 would apply the crime of witness tampering to anyone who “corruptly persuades or corruptly influences another person” to alter their testimony “with an intent […]

The South Dakota Capitol building in Pierre. (Seth Tupper/SD Searchlight)

Ex-candidate’s case helps spur election law proposal from attorney general

BY: - January 19, 2023

A nine-year-old case against a former U.S. Senate candidate paved the way for a legislative proposal that would make it a felony to lie about petition circulation. A jury convicted Dr. Annette Bosworth, a 2014 candidate on the Republican primary ballot for Senate, on a dozen felony counts of election law violations in 2015. Bosworth […]

Mark Vargo, right, shakes hands with members of the Wambli Ska Society on Sept. 13, 2022, in Pierre. (Courtesy of SD Attorney General's Office)

Native American outreach marks Attorney General Vargo’s short term in office

BY: - January 6, 2023

Attorney General Mark Vargo stepped away from his post on Friday with a six-month legacy he hopes will serve as a building block to stronger relations between law enforcement and South Dakota’s nine tribal nations. Vargo was appointed by Gov. Kristi Noem following the impeachment and removal of former Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg, who hit […]

Former DCI supervisor returns to lead state law enforcement agency

BY: - November 14, 2022

A longtime law enforcement officer and former second-in-command at South Dakota’s top detective agency will now serve as its leader. Attorney General-Elect Marty Jackley announced Monday that Dan Satterlee will serve as director of the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI). Satterlee was assistant DCI director during much of Jackley’s first stint as Attorney General, which […]