Sentence Modification Requests

Laughlin Law has represented clients is numerous requests for sentence modifications.  South Dakota courts retain jurisdiction to modify a sentence for a certain period of time after the case has ended.  This means that the court has the ability to go back and change the original terms of the sentence that was initially imposed.  For example, sentence modifications are often used to request a shorter sentence than the one that was originally ordered.  ​

Sentence Modification Details

In some instances a sentence modification may also be filed to request a suspended imposition of sentence if one was not granted at the time of sentencing.  After the allotted time period has lapsed a court is no longer able to modify the sentence, so it is important that the request is filed within the time limit. A court does not have to allow a criminal defendant the opportunity to have a hearing regarding the request for a modification of sentence. ​