South Dakota Felonies
A felony in the state of South Dakota can be defined as a crime that can be punished by an imprisonment term in a state prison. Misdemeanor offenses, on the other hand, are served in local or county jails. South Dakota has more felony classifications than any other state with nine different classes for the offenses. These classifications begin alphabetically with Class A Felonies through Class C Felonies and progress numerically to Class 1 Felonies though Class 6 Felonies.

Class A felonies are the most severe of crimes and include the criminal offense of murder. This kind of felony is punishable by death or a life in prison with a fine up to fifty thousand dollars. Class B Felonies include arson, aggravated kidnapping, and others. These felonies can be punished by up to life in prison with a fine up to fifty thousand dollars. Class C Felonies are the last of the alphabetical felonies and include manslaughter in the first degree, rape, kidnapping in the first degree, and others. Punishments for Class C Felonies include up to life in prison with a fine up to fifty thousand dollars.

Class 1 Felonies can hold punishments up to fifty years in prison with a fine up to fifty thousand dollars. These kinds of felonies include sexual crimes, aggravated kidnapping in the second degree, and others. Class 2 Felonies can include white collar crimes, aggravated assault, manslaughter in the first degree, robbery, and drug crimes deemed as marijuana felonies. Class 2 Felonies are punishable by up to twenty-five years in prison with a fine of no more than fifty thousand dollars. Class 3 Felonies can have punishments of up to fifteen years in a state prison with a fine of no more than thirty thousand dollars. These felonies include sexual conduct with a minor, vehicular homicide, burglary, and others. Class 4 Felonies can include theft and manslaughter in the second degree and are punishable by no more than ten years in a state prison with a fine of no more than twenty thousand dollars. Class 5 Felonies can have punishments of up to five years in prison with fines of no more than ten thousand dollars. Class 5 Felonies include driving under the influence as a felony, removal of a child from the state, terrorist threats, and others. The last classification of felonies in the Class 6 Felony that includes felony stalking, killing a on-duty police dog, and others. These kinds of felonies are punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of no more than four thousand dollars.

South Dakota Felony Expungement
The state of South Dakota does not allow the expungement of any felony offense records by any form of authority. However a statute of limitations has been set into place for the state. These include limitations for prosecution. There is no limitation for murder offenses, Class A Felonies, Class B Felonies, or Class 1 Felonies. All other felonies have a limitation of seven years.