In Re the Appeal From the Final Decision of the South Dakota Department of Labor, Unemployment Insurance Division for Johnson

MORGAN, Justice.

This is an appeal from the trial court’s affirmance of the Secretary of the Department of Labor’s (Secretary) final decision denying unemployment benefits to La-monte Johnson (Claimant), a former employee of Huron Dressed Beef (Employer), Huron, South Dakota. We reverse and remand.

Claimant had been in Employer’s employ for about seven months prior to the date of termination. At the time in question, Claimant was on a work-release program from the Beadle County Jail. The record is not clear, but it appears that Claimant’s job with Employer was part of the work-release program…