# S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-302: Presumptions in criminal cases

> South Dakota · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-302

## Section

- **Citation:** S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-302
- **Heading:** Presumptions in criminal cases
- **Jurisdiction:** South Dakota
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** SD Code / Title 19 / Chapter 19 / Section 19-19-302

## Text

(a) Scope. Except as otherwise provided by statute, in criminal cases, presumptions against an accused, recognized at common law or created by statute, including statutory provisions that certain facts are prima facie evidence of other facts or of guilt, are governed by this section.

(b) Submission to jury. The court is not authorized to direct the jury to find a presumed fact against the accused. If a presumed fact establishes guilt or is an element of the offense or negatives a defense, the court may submit the question of guilt or of the existence of the presumed fact to the jury, but only if a reasonable juror on the evidence as a whole, including the evidence of the basic facts, could find guilt or the presumed fact beyond a reasonable doubt. If the presumed fact has a lesser effect, the question of its existence may be submitted to the jury provided the basic facts are supported by substantial evidence or are otherwise established, unless the court determines that a reasonable juror on the evidence as a whole could not find the existence of the presumed fact.

(c) Instructing the jury. Whenever the existence of a presumed fact against the accused is submitted to the jury, the court shall instruct the jury that it may regard the basic facts as sufficient evidence of the presumed fact but is not required to do so. In addition, if the presumed fact establishes guilt or is an element of the offense or negatives a defense, the court shall instruct the jury that its existence, on all the evidence, must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

Source: SL 1979, ch 358 (Supreme Court Rule 78-2, Rule 302); SDCL §§ 19-11-2 to 19-11-4.

## Nearby sections

- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-101 Scope--Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-101.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-102 Purpose](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-102.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-103 Rulings on evidence](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-103.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-104 Preliminary questions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-104.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-105 Limiting evidence that is not admissible against other parties or for other purposes](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-105.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-106 Remainder of or related writings or recorded statements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-106.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-201 Judicial notice of adjudicative facts](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-201.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-301 Presumptions in civil cases](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-301.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-302 Presumptions in criminal cases](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-302.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-401 Test for relevant evidence](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-401.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-402 Relevant evidence generally admissible--Irrelevant evidence inadmissible](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-402.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-403 Excluding relevant evidence for prejudice, confusion, waste of time, or other reasons](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-403.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-404 Character evidence--Crimes or other acts](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-404.md)
- [S.D. Codified Laws § 19-19-405 Methods of proving character](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-405.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_SD_T19_C19_S19-19-302. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.