Restoring Civil Rights After a Felony in South Dakota

A prison sentence suspends the right to hold or run for public office and to serve on a jury during the term; an inmate discharged from prison or parole is restored to the full rights of citizenship and receives a certificate of restoration from the Secretary of Corrections. People with a felony conviction cannot serve on a jury unless restored to civil rights. Voting is governed by the election laws and returns when the sentence is completed. A person convicted of a crime of violence or certain felony drug offenses may not possess a firearm (a Class 6 felony) until 15 years after last being discharged from prison, jail, probation or parole.