South Dakota Faces $2 Billion Prison Construction Challenge Amid Rising Inmate Populations
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota is bracing for a monumental financial burden, estimating that building new prisons to accommodate a projected 34% increase in inmate populations over the next decade could cost up to $2 billion. This concern follows the state’s implementation of rigorous sentencing laws two years ago, which, despite national trends indicating decreasing crime rates, have led to a surge in incarceration.
State lawmakers are addressing the immediate need for prison reform by setting aside $600 million to replace the outdated South Dakota State Penitentiary, a significant move in taxpayer-funded projects. A consulting firm estimates the need for 3,300 additional prison beds, driven by laws mandating that some violent offenders serve their full sentences before parole.
Critics argue that the highest incarceration rates in the Upper Midwest—370 per 100,000 residents, compared with neighboring states—are unsustainable. Many inmates return to prison for technical violations post-parole, highlighting a lack of support services. Experts advocate investing in addiction and mental health treatment to reduce repeat offenses, cautioning that without policy changes, new facilities will quickly fill to capacity.
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