Records Administration is the central storehouse for all criminal records and traffic reports and is managed by an Administrative Assistant. Along with supporting police administration with daily operations, Records Administration assists with the following: 

Parking Tickets

Pet Licensing

Records Requests

Records are requested from the public and local background checks are conducted for government and other law enforcement agencies. Records include warning tickets, summons and complaints, case reports, parking tickets, arrest reports, and traffic accident reports. You may request a record by contacting Records Administration at (605) 668-5200 or email

In accordance with SDCL 1-27-1, the Yankton Police Department strives to maintain public access to records as defined in SDCL 1-27-1.1, notwithstanding SDCL 1-27-1.5(5) which defines records not open to inspection and copying as:

"Records developed or received by law enforcement agencies and other public bodies charged with duties of investigation or examination of persons, institutions, or businesses, if the records constitute a part of the examination, investigation, intelligence information, citizen complaints or inquiries, informant identification, or strategic or tactical information used in law enforcement training. However, this subdivision does not apply to records so developed or received relating to the presence of and amount or concentration of alcohol or drugs in any body fluid of any person, and this subdivision does not apply to a 911 recording or a transcript of a 911 recording, if the agency or a court determines that the public interest in disclosure outweighs the interest in nondisclosure. This law in no way abrogates or changes §§ 23-5-7 and 23-5-11 or testimonial privileges applying to the use of information from confidential informants;"

• Criminal cases: These are not open to the public. You must submit a subpeona to the Yankton City Attorney office at (605) 665-0494. If you do not have legal counsel, you may contact the Yankton County State's Attorney office at (605) 665-4301 to set up a time to view the case.

• Traffic accident reports: The Yankton Police Department utilizes Carfax, an internet-based program that allows insurance companies, law enforcement, and involved parties to access traffic accident reports. Go to www.crashdocs.org to access a copy of the accident report; you will need to enter in the information below. Please wait at least 5-7 business days after the accident to access the report.

• The police report number
• The last name of the involved party
• The date of the accident

When requesting a record, please be as detailed as possible to ensure the police department can conduct a full investigation. Records Administration will review the request and determine which, if any, records can be released. At that time, the requestor will be notified of the disposition of the request, as well as any fees associated with preparation of the record. If a request requires substantial research and/or preparation time, or when postage charges apply, additional charges may be incurred. 

 The current fees are as follows: 

• $2.00 per page for incident reports
• $4.00 total for traffic accident reports

Yankton Police Department 
410 Walnut Street, Suite 102
Yankton, SD 57078
Phone: (605) 668-5200

Hours of operation for records: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed on Holidays.