Pennington County Jail

Pennington County Jail Information

The Pennington County Jail is a 662 bed jail in the city of Rapid City, Pennington County, South Dakota.

This page provides information on how to search for an inmate in the official jail roster, or by calling the facility at 605-394-6116, directions to the facility, and inmate services such as the visitation schedule and policies, funding an inmate's account, mailing them a letter, receiving phone calls from an inmate, voicemail, emailing and texting, tablet rentals, bail bond instructions, and commissary purchases.

Phone: 605-394-6116

Physical Address:
307 St. Joseph Street
Rapid City, SD 57701

Mailing Address (personal mail):
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID# (if known)
Pennington County Jail
307 St. Joseph Street
Rapid City, SD 57701

Mailing Address (legal mail or subscriptions):
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID# (if known)
Pennington County Jail
307 St. Joseph Street
Rapid City, SD 57701

Other Jails and Prisons

How Do You Find Someone in the Pennington County Jail?

To search for an inmate in the Pennington County Jail, review their criminal charges, the amount of their bond, when they can get visits, or even view their mugshot, go to the Official Jail Inmate Roster, or call the jail at 605-394-6116 for the information you are looking for.

Pennington County Jail Inmate Search

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about finding an inmate in the Pennington County Jail, how the jail rosters work and what happens after an offender is arrested and booked. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 605-394-6116 for further assistance.

The Pennington County Jail maintains an average of 662 offenders in custody on any given day. The Pennington County Jail has a monthly turnover of 40% of their inmate population, another 30% turnover every 90 days, another 20% every six months, and approximately 10% stay incarcerated between six and twelve months. Every year Pennington County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain approximately 13,840 offenders.

The following charts of Pennington County inmate population demographics are updated daily. The information shown is for today. For research purposes we have broken down the inmates by sex, age, ethnicity, and criminal charges.

The information is compiled from the Pennington County Corrections Department, the state of South Dakota Department of Corrections, as well as the United States Department of Justice and Census Bureau records. It represents every person in custody in Pennington County.

For complete information on how to get directions, bond, visit, mail, send and receive email and texts, receive phone calls, and send money or commissary to an inmate, find arrest information for Pennington County and other counties surrounding this one, scroll down this page. We have a section for each.

We also provide photos of the jail that we have collected over the years.

For a collection of over 20 additional graphs and charts of the demographic and criminal arrest information of the inmates in Pennington County and South Dakota state prisons, click the button below.
Pennington County INMATE DEMOGRAPHICS

Pennington County Inmate Race & Ethnicity - 4/16/2024

Race Inmates % Total
White 447 82.78%
Black 0 0.00%
Hispanic or Latino 44 8.15%
American Indian/Native Alaskan 49 9.07%
Asian 0 0.00%
Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian 0 0.00%
Other 0 0.00%
Total 540 100.0%
Demographic, Crime and Inmate data is compiled from public reports provided by the Pennington County Sheriff’s Department, South Dakota Corrections, United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Census Bureau.

Pennington County Inmate Criminal Charges - 4/16/2024

(many inmates have multiple charges)

Charge Inmates % Total
Felony (3rd Degree) 128 23.70%
Felony (2rd Degree) 79 14.63%
Felony (1st Degree) 16 2.96%
State Jail Felony 82 15.19%
Felony (Uncategorized) 177 32.78%
Misdemeanor (Class A) 58 10.74%
Misdemeanor (Class C) 0 0.00%
Holds 0 0.00%
Uncategorized 0 0.00%
Demographic, Crime and Inmate data is compiled from public reports provided by the Pennington County Sheriff’s Department, South Dakota Corrections, United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Census Bureau.

Pennington County Inmate Sex - 4/16/2024

Sex Inmates % Total
Male 477 88.33%
Female 63 11.67%
Total 540 100.0%
Demographic, Crime and Inmate data is compiled from public reports provided by the Pennington County Sheriff’s Department, South Dakota Corrections, United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Census Bureau.

Pennington County Inmate Age - 4/16/2024

Age Inmates % Total
Under 18 8 1.48%
18-20 30 5.56%
21-24 43 7.96%
25-30 136 25.19%
31-35 77 14.26%
36-40 73 13.52%
41-45 74 13.70%
46-50 31 5.74%
51-55 22 4.07%
56-60 22 4.07%
61-65 10 1.85%
66-75 10 1.85%
76-85 4 0.74%
Total 540 100.0%
Demographic, Crime and Inmate data is compiled from public reports provided by the Pennington County Sheriff’s Department, South Dakota Corrections, United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Census Bureau.
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About the Pennington County Jail

Located in Rapid City, SD, the Pennington County Jail is the main housing location for locally arrested inmates, housing both male and female inmates, including juveniles, until they are released on bail or have finished their sentence. The jail is located at 307 St. Joseph Street Rapid City, SD 57701. You can treach them by calling 605-394-6116, and use their inmate lookup tool to see who is in custody.

The Pennington Jail Complex also includes a Work Release Center, an Annex that was built onto the jail during one of its major expansions, and a 53 bed section for juveniles who are separated from the adults.

Unfortunately they don't post offender's mugshots, but they do give you the option of getting them by registering and then requesting them.

Focused on the health and safety of everyone within, both staff and detainees, the jail is run carefully and with the newest technological advantages and security. Unlike many other facilities this building houses juveniles as well as adults, and with additions and expansions over the decades has reached over 662 adults and 53 juveniles for their top capacity, along with over 80 drug and alcohol treatment spots. While housed at this location there are many options for inmates to attend groups and classes to improve their chance of success after they are released.

There are bible studies, AA, church services, a drum group, GED program for those who did not finish high school, NA, yoga, and much more. Additionally, the jail has a focus on allowing and encouraging contact between inmates and their families, which can be done via mail service, telephone calls from the inmates to their loved ones, and with weekly visits to the jail or remotely via video calls. The phone system is provided through InmateSales, and money can be added by using the app, the kiosk in the lobby of the jail, or through inmatesales.com These calls are monitored, and can be used as evidence when appropriate, and inmates are not allowed to contact anyone who has a no contact order with them, who was involved in the crime, or who is a victim of theirs in any previous crime.

The same app can be used to access visitation with an inmate, and through this program there is no need to preschedule visits. Inmatesales.com and the Inmate Sales View App both allow for creating an account with which you can purchase minutes to visit with, connect with the inmate that you wish to have visits with, then wait for approval. When you have been approved you will be able to activate a remote visit and once the inmate is also online either part can initiate the visit. To ensure that you will both be online at the same time you may discuss and make arrangements over phone call, at the end of a visit, or through chirp or email.

These are programs that inmates can access throughout the day, and allow for email and text messages to be shared between inmates and their loved ones throughout the day and in real time. These are also all monitored and privileges can be removed if either party breaks the rules surrounding them.

Mail can be received every day and is processed and passed to the inmates quickly, however the jail also uses a digital service to avoid contraband entering the facility. Friends and family of inmates in the Pennington County Jail can arrange to visit inmates by video, both at the jail and remotely from home. They can also send them money and buy them commissary online, and set up a phone account that allows the inmates to call them during the day and evening seven days a week.

All the information on these inmate services can be found in the sections below.  If you still have questions, you can phone the jail 24 hours a day by calling 605-394-6116.

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Recent Bookings & Arrests

How do I find out if someone has been arrested and booked into the Pennington County Jail?

To find out if someone you know has been recently arrested and booked into the Pennington County Jail, call the jail’s booking line at 605-394-6116.

There may be an automated method of looking them up by their name over the phone, or you may be directed to speak to someone at the jail. Sometimes the jail staff may ask you the offender’s date of birth to ensure privacy of the offender’s status.

Keep in mind that after an arrest, the information on an offender may not be publicly available for several hours.

If you don’t want to check up on an offender by calling the jail, you can also try looking up people recently booked online.

Pennington County Jail Booking Roster

What happens during booking in Pennington County?

After being arrested and taken into custody, and after being read their Miranda Rights, an offender will next be transported to the local police or department or the Sheriff’s Department in Pennington County for booking.

Booking is very involved and requires multiple steps in the process, however, keep in mind that most attorneys will advise that an offender remain silent and not offer any additional information about the crime they have been arrested for because anything they do say may be recorded and may very well be used against them in court.

What is the booking process like at the Pennington County Jail?

Booking includes having their photo (mugshot) and fingerprints taken, as well as being asked a lot of questions about their personal history and state of mind. If it’s a serious felony, their DNA may also be taken. They will also be checked for warrants in Pennington County and other South Dakota and USA jurisdictions.

If the offender was arrested for a DUI offense, and has refused a breathalyzer test, they may also be forced to have blood drawn by a doctor or nurse.

It is also very likely that the offender will undergo a humiliating full body search while in the nude. This includes bending over, spreading their cheeks in the direction of an officer, and coughing. They will also be walked through a metal detector or x-ray machine, like those used at an airport.

What kind of questions are asked during booking?

The arresting jurisdiction will ask about gang affiliations, tattoos, medical conditions, prescribed medication they are taking, recreational drugs they are on or addicted to, allergies, if they are suicidal, and other relevant information that will help with determining their cell assignment and special needs.

What happens to an offender’s personal property during booking?

During the arrest and booking process an offender will also have all their personal property confiscated and held for either their release from jail, or with the offender’s approval, released to a friend or family member.

Personal property includes the clothing they are wearing, money, wallets, purses, cell phones, jewelry, body rings, earrings, watches, and even glasses if they are deemed a security risk. If they are allowed to keep their shoes or sneakers, the laces are removed.

What happens after booking?

At this point the offender will be allowed to make a free phone call to a person of their choice to notify them of their arrest, and/or arrange a bond or bail for their release.

If the offender is being detained and housed while awaiting arraignment, the Pennington County Jail will provide a jail garment and slip-on shoes, a blanket, sheets, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, and a towel.

Often, before they are dressed in the jail outfit and brought to their housing location, they will be forced to take a shower and undergo a disinfectant treatment for body and hair lice, scabies or other pests that may be residing on their person.

How long does the Pennington County Jail Booking process take?

Booking can take anywhere from an hour to 24 hours or more. It all depends on the number of people that are awaiting processing, the number of staff on duty at the time, and the behavior of the offender.

If the offender is heavily intoxicated and/or violent, the Booking Officer may decide to stick the offender in a holding cell for several hours until they become more manageable.

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Directions / Map to the Pennington County Jail
Inmate Visitation

How Do You Visit an Inmate in the Pennington County Jail? What is the Schedule?

Pennington County Jail on-site Inmate Visitation Schedule

307 St. Joseph Street
Rapid City, SD 57701
605-394-6116

  • First, you must register with Inmate Sales, and then schedule a visit.
  • Each inmate is allowed an unlimited amount of visits per day. Remote visitation is $0.15 per minute.
  • Proper attire is required. No low-cut blouses, tank tops, short skirts or dresses, tight shorts, hats or any other form of provocative dress will be allowed. Shirt and shoes must be worn.
  • All visitors must provide proper state or government issued photo identification (i.e. driver’s license, foreign id or passports) for inmate visitation.
  • On Site video visitation is available at no cost.
  • A video visit lasts 20 minutes.
  • Visitors may only use this system on the inmates assigned visitation day, whenever the inmates have free time.
  • All rules set forth for non-contact visitation shall be adhered to when using the video visitation system.
  • Any lewd, profane or inappropriate behavior shall result in loss of video visitation privileges for the visitor and/or inmate.
  • Each inmate is permitted a maximum of three on site visitors per session. 
  • Visitation sign-up is limited and on a first-come first serve basis.
  • Visitors are encouraged to go online and reserve a visitation time. Purchased visitation minutes are not transferable.
  • An adult must accompany all visitors who are under 17 years of age. Children must be monitored at all times.
  • Visitors are not allowed to bring any personal belongings with them into the visitation area other than their picture ID and/or a set of keys unless otherwise allowed by the jail.

ON SITE VIDEO VISITATION - * NOTE: Each inmate is assigned one day a week for on-site visits. Check with them for their specific day, then book a time online with Inmate Sales.

DAY TIMES
SUNDAY 9:00AM - 6:00PM
MONDAY 9:00AM - 6:00PM
TUESDAY 9:00AM - 6:00PM
WEDNESDAY 9:00AM - 6:00PM
THURSDAY 9:00AM - 6:00PM
FRIDAY 9:00AM - 6:00PM
SATURDAY 9:00AM - 6:00PM


Pennington County Jail Remote Inmate Video Visitation

  • First, you must register with Inmate Sales, and then schedule a visit.
  • Each inmate is allowed an unlimited amount of visits per day. Remote visitation is $0.20 per minute.
  • Remote Visits are $0.15 per minute.

REMOTE VIDEO VISITATION

DAY TIMES
SUNDAY 6:00AM - 11:00PM
MONDAY 6:00AM - 11:00PM
TUESDAY 6:00AM - 11:00PM
WEDNESDAY 6:00AM - 11:00PM
THURSDAY 6:00AM - 11:00PM
FRIDAY 6:00AM - 11:00PM
SATURDAY 6:00AM - 11:00PM

Pennington County Jail uses the services of Inmate Sales, also known as Combined Public Communication (CPC) for visitation communication between inmates and their friends and family members.

In order to have a successful video visit, these are the steps to follow:

  1. Make sure you have a device a speaker, a camera and a connection to the internet.
  2. Register with Inmate Sales.
  3. Find Pennington County Jail
  4. Select 'New Purchase'
  5. Choose this facility and a product ('Remote' or 'Onsite' Visit)
  6. Enter your personal information and purchase minutes.
  7. Schedule a visit.

Call 877-998-5678 if you have any questions.
iphone app
Google Play app

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Pennington County Jail’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 605-394-6116 for further assistance.

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Remote Video Visitation

Can I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Pennington County Jail?

Pennington County Jail on-site Inmate Visitation Schedule

307 St. Joseph Street
Rapid City, SD 57701
605-394-6116

  • First, you must register with Inmate Sales, and then schedule a visit.
  • Each inmate is allowed an unlimited amount of visits per day. Remote visitation is $0.15 per minute.
  • Proper attire is required. No low-cut blouses, tank tops, short skirts or dresses, tight shorts, hats or any other form of provocative dress will be allowed. Shirt and shoes must be worn.
  • All visitors must provide proper state or government issued photo identification (i.e. driver’s license, foreign id or passports) for inmate visitation.
  • On Site video visitation is available at no cost.
  • A video visit lasts 20 minutes.
  • Visitors may only use this system on the inmates assigned visitation day, whenever the inmates have free time.
  • All rules set forth for non-contact visitation shall be adhered to when using the video visitation system.
  • Any lewd, profane or inappropriate behavior shall result in loss of video visitation privileges for the visitor and/or inmate.
  • Each inmate is permitted a maximum of three on site visitors per session. 
  • Visitation sign-up is limited and on a first-come first serve basis.
  • Visitors are encouraged to go online and reserve a visitation time. Purchased visitation minutes are not transferable.
  • An adult must accompany all visitors who are under 17 years of age. Children must be monitored at all times.
  • Visitors are not allowed to bring any personal belongings with them into the visitation area other than their picture ID and/or a set of keys unless otherwise allowed by the jail.

ON SITE VIDEO VISITATION - * NOTE: Each inmate is assigned one day a week for on-site visits. Check with them for their specific day, then book a time online with Inmate Sales.

DAY TIMES
SUNDAY 9:00AM - 6:00PM
MONDAY 9:00AM - 6:00PM
TUESDAY 9:00AM - 6:00PM
WEDNESDAY 9:00AM - 6:00PM
THURSDAY 9:00AM - 6:00PM
FRIDAY 9:00AM - 6:00PM
SATURDAY 9:00AM - 6:00PM


Pennington County Jail Remote Inmate Video Visitation

  • First, you must register with Inmate Sales, and then schedule a visit.
  • Each inmate is allowed an unlimited amount of visits per day. Remote visitation is $0.20 per minute.
  • Remote Visits are $0.15 per minute.

REMOTE VIDEO VISITATION

DAY TIMES
SUNDAY 6:00AM - 11:00PM
MONDAY 6:00AM - 11:00PM
TUESDAY 6:00AM - 11:00PM
WEDNESDAY 6:00AM - 11:00PM
THURSDAY 6:00AM - 11:00PM
FRIDAY 6:00AM - 11:00PM
SATURDAY 6:00AM - 11:00PM

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Pennington County Jail’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 605-394-6116 for further assistance.

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Inmate Money Accounts

How Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Pennington County Jail?

There are FOUR options for putting money on an inmate's books:

Option 1 - Dropping Money at the Jail
Bring money to the jail in person. 
Either the jail personnel will process the Inmate Account payment or you will use a Jail ATM self-serve kiosk in the lobbies that accepts cash, debit or credit cards.

Option 2 - Deposit Inmate Money Online
Pennington County Jail uses Jail ATM to process all online deposits to an inmate's account. The company charges you a small fee for doing so, but the fee probably isn't as much as gas and parking would cost to take it to the jail in person.

Option 3 - Mail the Inmate Deposit to the Jail
Mailing a deposit takes more time to process than the other methods but can be done if you live too far away to bring it in person and you don't have a debit/credit card for online deposits. Never send cash. Always send a Money Order from the US Post Office, a reputable bank or Western Union. Call the Pennington County Jail first as they may want you to do this online or at the jail kiosk instead.
Make the Money Order out to the inmate's name and put their Inmate ID# in memo section of the Money Order.
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID# (if known)
Pennington County Jail
307 St. Joseph Street
Rapid City, SD 57701


Option 4 - Make an Inmate Deposit with Jail ATM over the Phone by calling 877-810-0914
To do this you will need the inmate's offender # (inmate ID #) and full legal name.

How to Deposit Money Online for an Inmate in Pennington County

To deposit money online for an inmate in Pennington County Jail follow these steps:

  • Register to open an account, or Sign In to JailATM, a service that acts as a bank for inmates in Pennington County.
  • After registering and signing in, select 'Send Money Now'.
  • Choose South Dakota, then choose Pennington County Jail
  • Type in your inmate's last name or their Inmate ID.
  • Select your inmate.
  • Input an amount to deposit to your inmate in Pennington County Jail, and then input your payment method. 
  • NOTE: There may be a limit on how much money you can send your inmate in Pennington County at any one time.
  • If you need to phone customer support, call 877-810-0914.

For all information, tips and procedures for sending money to an inmate in Pennington County Jail, or depositing money at the jail, over the phone or by mail, check out our Send Money Page for Pennington County.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Pennington County Jail’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 605-394-6116 for further assistance.

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Inmate Phone Contact

How Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Pennington County Jail?

How Do Inmates in Pennington County Jail Make Phone Calls?

To receive phone calls from inmates in Pennington County, or to assist them in making phone calls to other people, follow these steps:

  • Pennington County Jail uses the services of a company named Inmate Sales.
  • Register with them online or call them at 877-998-5678
  • Agents are available M-F from 8:00 AM - 12:00 midnight EST, Saturdays from 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM, and speak both English & Spanish.
  • Services for Pennington County inmates and their families and friends include: Collect Calling, PIN Debit, Purchasing Calling Cards, Deposits, Messaging & Video Visitation.

iphone app
Google Play app

For all the information regarding phone calls with Pennington County inmates; rules, policies, phone calling times, limits and more visit our Inmate Phone Page.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Pennington County Jail’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 605-394-6116 for further assistance.

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Mailing an Inmate

How do I Mail an Inmate in the Pennington County Jail, and what can I send them?

Pennington County Jail Inmate Mail Guidelines

Postcards
The Pennington County Jail allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature. It is best to only use blue or black ink. Always include your name and return address.

Envelopes
The Pennington County Jail also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates. It is best to only use blue or black ink.

Postcards and envelopes MUST HAVE the sender's full name and return address on the envelope. 

Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID# (if known)
Pennington County Jail
307 St. Joseph Street
Rapid City, SD 57701



Legal Mail

Send all Legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID# (if known)
Pennington County Jail
307 St. Joseph Street
Rapid City, SD 57701



Newspapers
Newspapers may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher.

Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.

Books
The Pennington County Jail allows books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as AmazonBarnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address noted.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Pennington County Jail standards will be disposed of. 
Hard cover books will not be accepted by the jail due to their potential to be used as a weapon.


All newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID# (if known)
Pennington County Jail
307 St. Joseph Street
Rapid City, SD 57701

Pennington County Jail Inmate Mail Policies and Address - What Can You Send, and Where?

For inmates receiving mail in the Pennington County Jail there are different addresses and policies depending on the inmate's status, as well as what type of mail they are receiving; personal mail, legal mail, subscriptions or books sent from a third-party such as Amazon.

All mail is to be shipped to the Pennington County Jail:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID# (if known)
Pennington County Jail
307 St. Joseph Street
Rapid City, SD 57701


For complete information on mail policies, what you can send an inmate and what address to send them, check out our Inmate Mail page.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Pennington County Jail’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 605-394-6116 for further assistance.

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Inmate Commissary

Can I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Pennington County Jail, and what can I purchase?

JailATM – Send Money or Send Commissary Gift Packs to Pennington County Jail

Search for JailATM services for Pennington County Jail.

Make an inmate deposit with JailATM for Pennington County Jail. 

Note: While JailATM offers the following inmate services, Pennington County Jail may not allow all of them. Check on the JailATM website to confirm. Services available through JailATM are subject to change with no notice.

Send Gift Packs

Pennington County Jail has an agreement with JailATM, which ships predetermined Gift Packs of candy, snacks and hygiene products to the inmate. Check the JailATM website to see if they allow Gift Packs.

These can be ordered by you online and are delivered directly to the inmate.

How to Send a Carepack Commissary Package Directly to an Inmate in Pennington County

To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Pennington County Jail follow these steps:

  • Go to JailATM, choose South Dakota, then choose Pennington County Jail
  • Type in your inmate's last name or their Inmate ID.
  • Select your inmate, and then you will be prompted to Register with them to open an account.
  • Select the products you want shipped to them at Pennington County Jail, and then input your payment method. 
  • NOTE: There may be a limit on how much product you can send your inmate in Pennington County at any one time.
  • If you need to phone customer support, call 877-810-0914

For all information, tips and available items for shipping Commissary packages or sending money to an inmate in Pennington County Jail check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Pennington County.


 

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Pennington County Jail’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 605-394-6116 for further assistance.

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Texting and Emailing an Inmate

How Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Pennington County Jail using an Online Messaging Service?

Pennington County Jail uses the services of Inmate Sales to allow text messaging communication between inmates and their friends and family.


Chirping is the product name for inmate texting.  
This product allows inmates to send chirps (texts) to friends and family members.


Here's how it works:

  • First you must register, and then funds are added to the inmate's account. If you want to pay by phone, call 877-998-5678.
  • When an inmate gets the device they may send 5 free automated messages each day for the first three days of possession of the chirping device.  
  • These automated messages will inform the person the inmate Chirped who is sending the Chirps and the facility they are Chirping from.
  • It will then ask them to go to a direct link to the inmate's account on the Inmate Sales website.
  • The website will then instruct them to use a credit card to put money on the inmate's account.  

Cost of Chirping:  

  • Inmates will be charged a monthly service fee of $4.00.  Inbound and Outbound Chirps are $0.10 each.
  • If an inmate has available funds on their chirping device they will be able to chirp any cell phone and that chirp will appear to be a normal text. 
  • If you wish to stop receiving Chirps from an inmate, reply to the Chirp with STOP.

iphone app
Google Play app

How to Send a Secure Email Message to an Inmate in Pennington County

To send a secure email message to an inmate in Pennington County Jail follow these steps:

  • Register with Inmate Sales, the company that handles inmate messaging in Pennington County, by creating an account.
  • Select South Dakota, then select Pennington County Jail, and then the inmate you want to send your message to.
  • Choose the amount of money you want to spend, and input your payment method. The funds can also be used by the inmate to send a message back to you.
  • If you want to pay by phone, call 877-998-5678.
  • NOTE: All messages between you and your inmate will be permanently recorded and seen by the staff and could be used against your inmate in court.

-  Chirping is the product name for inmate texting.  
-  This product allows Pennington County inmates to send chirps (texts) to friends and family members.
-  Inmates will be charged a monthly service fee of $4.00.
-  Inbound and Outbound Chirps are $0.10 each.

Inmate Sales Apps

iphone app
Google Play app

For all information on how to Text/Email an Inmate in Pennington County Jail check out our Secure Messaging Guide for Pennington County.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Pennington County Jail’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 605-394-6116 for further assistance.

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Inmate Tablets

Do Inmates in the Pennington County Jail have Access to Tablets or Computers?

Pennington County Jail now offers Inmate Sales Tablets to their inmates.


Inmate Sales also handles inmate phone systems, video visitations, email and texting (they call it chirping) and digital letters.

The tablets can be rented on a monthly basis (or are given to the inmate use for a limited time) and while not directly connected to the internet, the inmates can use them for the following activities:

  • Phone Calls - Inmates may make calls directly from their tablet allowing for more privacy. The rates are the same as the phones in the unit, and the calls are still recorded and monitored.
  • eMessaging - Communicate via a text based message or picture. Fee based system.
  • Job Search - Inmates have the ability to see what jobs are available when they are released.
  • Education - Free educational platform and course catalog that provides thousands of educational resources.
  • Self Help -Inmates have daily access to mental health and addiction recovery programming.
  • Music - Top-40, Hip-Hop, Country, Rock, Gospel, and more.
  • Law Library -  Legal research with up-to-date case information.
  • eBooks - Thousands of available titles.
  • Religion - Religious resources for spiritual guidance.
  • Games - Inmates can play their favorite games. Available through monthly subscriptions
  • Facility Services - Digital access to submitted forms, requests, facility documents, and notifications from staff.

Here's how it works:

  • Register here.  It is recommended you use Chrome or Firefox.
  • You get charged a full month even if it's only used for a partial month.
  • No activation or early termination fees.
  • Your inmate will recieve their tablet in 3-5 business days, after you pay.

Questions:

iphone app download

Google Play download

Pennington County Jail now offers Inmate Sales Tablets to their inmates.


Inmate Sales also handles inmate phone systems, video visitations, email and texting (they call it chirping) and digital letters.

The tablets can be rented on a monthly basis (or are given to the inmate use for a limited time) and while not directly connected to the internet, the inmates can use them for the following activities:

Here's how it works:

  • Register here.  It is recommended you use Chrome or Firefox.
  • You get charged a full month even if it's only used for a partial month.
  • No activation or early termination fees.
  • Your inmate will recieve their tablet in 3-5 business days, after you pay.

Questions:

iphone app download

Google Play download

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Pennington County Jail’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 605-394-6116 for further assistance.

Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
Are there photos of the Pennington County Jail? What does it look like?
Other Jails in Pennington County

What are the other City and County Jails in Pennington County?

Pennington County County Jails
Pennington County Juvenile Facilities
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Other Jails Nearby

What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Pennington County?

Pennington Custer Shannon Jackson Haakon Lawrence Meade Weston
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US State Prison Population Demographics

Total Inmates in US State Prisons by Sex on 4/16/2024

Sex Inmates % Total
Male 973,343 93.26%
Female 70,362 6.74%
Total 1,043,705 100.0%

Total Inmates in US State Prisons by Race/Ethnicity on 4/16/2024

race Inmates % Total
White 327,300 35.27%
Black 345,500 37.23%
Hispanic 226,800 24.44%
American Indian / Alaska Native 15,900 1.71%
Asian 12,500 1.35%
Total 928,000 100.0%

Total of Violent Inmates in US State Prisons by Sex on 4/16/2024

Sex Inmates % Total
Male 622,200 95.46%
Female 31,700 4.86%
Total 653,900 100.0%

Total of Violent Inmates in US State Prisons by Race/Ethnicity on 4/16/2024

race Inmates % Total
White 178,600 29.23%
Black 234,500 38.38%
Hispanic 179,500 29.38%
American Indian / Alaska Native 9,600 1.57%
Asian 8,800 1.44%
Total 611,000 100.0%

Murderers Held in US State Prisons by Sex on 4/16/2024

Sex Inmates % Total
Male 147,500 93.95%
Female 10,000 6.37%
Total 157,500 100.0%

Murderers Held in US State Prisons by Race/Ethnicity on 4/16/2024

race Inmates % Total
White 37,600 26.04%
Black 63,000 43.63%
Hispanic 39,100 27.08%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2,300 1.59%
Asian 2,400 1.66%
Total 144,400 100.0%

Violent Negligent Manslaughter Inmates in US State Prisons by Sex on 4/16/2024

Sex Inmates % Total
Male 16,000 86.02%
Female 2,600 13.98%
Total 18,600 100.0%

Violent Negligent Manslaughter Inmates in US State Prisons by Race/Ethnicity on 4/16/2024

race Inmates % Total
White 5,400 43.90%
Black 3,600 29.27%
Hispanic 2,900 23.58%
American Indian / Alaska Native 200 1.63%
Asian 200 1.63%
Total 12,300 100.0%

Violent Rape & Sexual Assault Inmates in US State Prisons by Sex on 4/16/2024

Sex Inmates % Total
Male 159,800 98.95%
Female 2,200 1.36%
Total 162,000 100.0%

Violent Robbery Inmates in US State Prisons by Sex on 4/16/2024

Sex Inmates % Total
Male 125,800 96.18%
Female 5,400 4.13%
Total 131,200 100.0%

Violent Robbery Inmates in US State Prisons by Race/Ethnicity on 4/16/2024

race Inmates % Total
White 21,900 18.64%
Black 66,800 56.85%
Hispanic 26,500 22.55%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1,200 1.02%
Asian 1,100 0.94%
Total 117,500 100.0%

Violent Aggravated/Simple Assault Inmates in US State Prisons by Sex on 4/16/2024

Sex Inmates % Total
Male 137,000 94.74%
Female 8,100 5.60%
Total 145,100 100.0%

Violent Aggravated/Simple Assault Inmates in US State Prisons by Race/Ethnicity on 4/16/2024

race Inmates % Total
White 37,500 23.28%
Black 53,300 33.09%
Hispanic 65,300 40.53%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2,800 1.74%
Asian 2,200 1.37%
Total 161,100 100.0%

Other Violent Inmates in US State Prisons by Sex on 4/16/2024 - non-categorized

Sex Inmates % Total
Male 36,100 91.86%
Female 3,300 8.40%
Total 39,400 100.0%

Other Violent Inmates in US State Prisons by Race/Ethnicity on 4/16/2024 - non-categorized

race Inmates % Total
White 12,200 32.45%
Black 14,200 37.77%
Hispanic 9,700 25.80%
American Indian / Alaska Native 800 2.13%
Asian 700 1.86%
Total 37,600 100.0%

Total of Property Crime Inmates in US State Prisons by Sex on 4/16/2024

Sex Inmates % Total
Male 127,900 90.64%
Female 13,600 9.64%
Total 141,500 100.0%

Total of Property Crime Inmates in US State Prisons by Race/Ethnicity on 4/16/2024

race Inmates % Total
White 60,500 50.46%
Black 37,800 31.53%
Hispanic 18,100 15.10%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2,100 1.75%
Asian 1,400 1.17%
Total 119,900 100.0%

Burglary Inmates in US State Prisons by Sex on 4/16/2024

Sex Inmates % Total
Male 75,900 95.11%
Female 4,200 5.26%
Total 80,100 100.0%

Burglary Inmates in US State Prisons by Race/Ethnicity on 4/16/2024

race Inmates % Total
White 30,500 44.40%
Black 24,200 35.23%
Hispanic 12,300 17.90%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1,100 1.60%
Asian 600 0.87%
Total 68,700 100.0%

Larceny & Theft Inmates in US State Prisons by Sex on 4/16/2024

Sex Inmates % Total
Male 22,300 84.47%
Female 4,200 15.91%
Total 26,500 100.0%

Larceny & Theft Inmates in US State Prisons by Race/Ethnicity on 4/16/2024

race Inmates % Total
White 13,800 58.97%
Black 6,800 29.06%
Hispanic 2,200 9.40%
American Indian / Alaska Native 300 1.28%
Asian 300 1.28%
Total 23,400 100.0%

Motor Vehicle Theft Inmates in US State Prisons by Sex on 4/16/2024

Sex Inmates % Total
Male 6,400 91.43%
Female 600 8.57%
Total 7,000 100.0%

Motor Vehicle Theft Inmates in US State Prisons by Race/Ethnicity on 4/16/2024

race Inmates % Total
White 2,500 48.08%
Black 1,500 28.85%
Hispanic 1,000 19.23%
American Indian / Alaska Native 100 1.92%
Asian 100 1.92%
Total 5,200 100.0%

Fraud Inmates in US State Prisons by Sex on 4/16/2024

Sex Inmates % Total
Male 9,800 75.97%
Female 3,200 24.81%
Total 13,000 100.0%

Fraud Inmates in US State Prisons by Race/Ethnicity on 4/16/2024

race Inmates % Total
White 6,900 63.30%
Black 2,600 23.85%
Hispanic 900 8.26%
American Indian / Alaska Native 300 2.75%
Asian 200 1.83%
Total 10,900 100.0%

Other Property Crime Inmates in US State Prisons by Sex on 4/16/2024 - non-categorized

Sex Inmates % Total
Male 13,600 90.67%
Female 1,400 9.33%
Total 15,000 100.0%

Other Property Crime Inmates in US State Prisons by Race/Ethnicity on 4/16/2024 - non-categorized

race Inmates % Total
White 6,700 58.26%
Black 2,700 23.48%
Hispanic 1,700 14.78%
American Indian / Alaska Native 200 1.74%
Asian 200 1.74%
Total 11,500 100.0%

Total of Drug Related Inmates in US State Prisons by Sex on 4/16/2024

Sex Inmates % Total
Male 114,600 87.08%
Female 17,400 13.22%
Total 132,000 100.0%

Total of Drug Related Inmates in US State Prisons by Race/Ethnicity on 4/16/2024

race Inmates % Total
White 49,500 47.50%
Black 37,300 35.80%
Hispanic 14,600 14.01%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1,700 1.63%
Asian 1,100 1.06%
Total 104,200 100.0%

Inmates Convicted of Drug Possession in US State Prisons by Sex on 4/16/2024

Sex Inmates % Total
Male 28,500 84.57%
Female 5,300 15.73%
Total 33,800 100.0%

Inmates Convicted of Drug Possession in US State Prisons by Race/Ethnicity on 4/16/2024

race Inmates % Total
White 14,800 56.27%
Black 7,900 30.04%
Hispanic 3,000 11.41%
American Indian / Alaska Native 400 1.52%
Asian 200 0.76%
Total 26,300 100.0%

Inmates Convicted of Drug Dealing/Manufacturing in US State Prisons by Sex on 4/16/2024

Sex Inmates % Total
Male 86,100 88.04%
Female 12,000 12.27%
Total 98,100 100.0%

Inmates Convicted of Drug Dealing/Manufacturing in US State Prisons by Race/Ethnicity on 4/16/2024

race Inmates % Total
White 34,700 44.54%
Black 29,400 37.74%
Hispanic 11,600 14.89%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1,300 1.67%
Asian 900 1.16%
Total 77,900 100.0%

Total of 'Public Order' Related Inmates in US State Prisons by Sex on 4/16/2024

Sex Inmates % Total
Male 102,500 93.95%
Female 6,900 6.32%
Total 109,400 100.0%

Total of 'Public Order' Related Inmates in US State Prisons by Race/Ethnicity on 4/16/2024

race Inmates % Total
White 35,900 40.84%
Black 34,500 39.25%
Hispanic 13,800 15.70%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2,500 2.84%
Asian 1,200 1.37%
Total 87,900 100.0%

Inmates Convicted on Illegal Weapon Possession in US State Prisons by Sex on 4/16/2024

Sex Inmates % Total
Male 37,800 97.93%
Female 900 2.33%
Total 38,700 100.0%

Inmates Convicted on Illegal Weapon Possession in US State Prisons by Race/Ethnicity on 4/16/2024

race Inmates % Total
White 7,200 22.86%
Black 16,900 53.65%
Hispanic 6,500 20.63%
American Indian / Alaska Native 500 1.59%
Asian 400 1.27%
Total 31,500 100.0%

Inmates Convicted of Multiple DUI/DWI in US State Prisons by Sex on 4/16/2024

Sex Inmates % Total
Male 13,400 89.33%
Female 1,600 10.67%
Total 15,000 100.0%

Inmates Convicted of Multiple DUI/DWI in US State Prisons by Race/Ethnicity on 4/16/2024

race Inmates % Total
White 6,800 59.65%
Black 2,000 17.54%
Hispanic 1,800 15.79%
American Indian / Alaska Native 700 6.14%
Asian 100 0.88%
Total 11,400 100.0%

Inmates Convicted of Other 'Public Order' Felonies in US State Prisons by Sex on 4/16/2024

Sex Inmates % Total
Male 51,200 92.25%
Female 4,400 7.93%
Total 55,600 100.0%

Inmates Convicted of Other 'Public Order' Felonies in US State Prisons by Race/Ethnicity on 4/16/2024

race Inmates % Total
White 21,900 48.45%
Black 15,700 34.73%
Hispanic 5,600 12.39%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1,300 2.88%
Asian 700 1.55%
Total 45,200 100.0%

Total Number of Inmates Convicted of Unspecified Felonies in US State Prisons by Sex on 4/16/2024

Sex Inmates % Total
Male 6,100 89.71%
Female 800 11.76%
Total 6,900 100.0%

Total Number of Inmates Convicted of Unspecified Felonies in US State Prisons by Race/Ethnicity on 4/16/2024

race Inmates % Total
White 2,700 52.94%
Black 1,500 29.41%
Hispanic 700 13.73%
American Indian / Alaska Native 100 1.96%
Asian 100 1.96%
Total 5,100 100.0%
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This facility, known as "Pennington County Jail" is also known as Pennington Juvenile Detention, Pennington County Jail , Pennington County Jail , South Dakota, Pennington.