{"data":{"id":"us-sd/sdcl-22-1-1","jurisdiction":"us-sd","citation":"SDCL § 22-1-1","heading":"Common-law rule of strict construction abrogated.","body":"The rule of the common law that penal statutes are to be strictly construed has no application to this title. All its criminal and penal provisions and all penal statutes shall be construed according to the fair import of their terms, with a view to effect their objects and promote justice.","path":["TITLE 22. CRIMES","CHAPTER 22-1. DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS"],"source_url":"https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/22-1-1","current_through":"2026-08-31","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T15:18:56Z","sha256":"914df03035f32182d6f71beb30bb9c451ea0d99c00cbf86d3e07ff5b3c2421a7","source_id":"us-sd","stale":true,"prev":"us-sd/sdcl-21-68-6","next":"us-sd/sdcl-22-1-2"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}