SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - What impact is South Dakota's new victim's rights law going to have on crime tips from the public when law enforcement is limited in what it can release?
Officer Sam Clemens says the constitutional amendment protects victims and the victim's family.
Clemens says as investigators collect evidence they can talk to the victims and ask for their approval to release additional details. The victims can be individuals or businesses.
Clemens says it will take more time to release key details, if at all.
He says the entire law enforcement community is still sorting through the areas that the constitutional amendment is impacting.
Clemens says police will still release suspect's description and give some indication of where the crime occured. Right now they're only referring to the police district beat map.
He says the learning curve is steep but police will abide by the amendment as best they can. He says the amendment trumps state law, so for now, there are some laws officers won't be able to follow.