What A Class Means
SDCL § 22-6-1 and SDCL § 22-6-2 — the most a court may impose for each class of felony and misdemeanor
| Class | Most time | Most fine |
|---|---|---|
| ClassClass 2 misdemeanor | Most timeThirty days in a county jail | Most fine$500 |
| ClassClass 1 misdemeanor | Most timeOne year in a county jail | Most fine$2,000 |
| ClassClass 6 felony | Most timeTwo years in a state facility | Most fine$4,000 |
| ClassClass 5 felony | Most timeFive years | Most fine$10,000 |
| ClassClass 4 felony | Most timeTen years | Most fine$20,000 |
| ClassClass 3 felony | Most timeFifteen years | Most fine$30,000 |
| ClassClass 2 felony | Most timeTwenty-five years | Most fine$50,000 |
| ClassClass 1 felony | Most timeFifty years | Most fine$50,000 |
Those are maximums the court may impose, not what every case receives. Classes A, B and C are the most serious felonies, up to life imprisonment.
Restitution too. For a felony or a misdemeanor, the court orders the defendant to make restitution to any victim, in addition to the sentence.
Habitual offender laws can raise a sentence. A particular sentence is a question for a licensed South Dakota attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- SDCL § 22-6-1 — Felony classes and penalties; Restitution; Habitual criminal sentences
- SDCL § 22-6-2 — Misdemeanor classes and penalties; Restitution; Misdemeanor when no penalty imposed
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed South Dakota attorney.