South Dakota Faces $2 Billion Prison Construction Challenge Amid Rising Inmate Population
Sioux Falls, S.D. – South Dakota is grappling with the financial implications of its stringent crime policies, projecting a staggering need for up to $2 billion in new prison facilities over the next decade. This forecast follows a newly instituted law requiring certain violent offenders to serve their full sentences before parole, which is expected to contribute to a 34% increase in the inmate population.
Currently, the state has set aside $600 million to replace the aging South Dakota State Penitentiary, built 144 years ago, marking it as one of the largest taxpayer-funded projects in the state’s history. However, experts indicate that more than this initial investment will be required, with a demand for an additional 3,300 prison beds.
Critics, including Bob Libal from The Sentencing Project, question the wisdom of such investments during a nationwide decline in crime rates. Despite the mounting costs, South Dakota legislators appear hesitant to reassess the tough-on-crime laws driving these increases. The state’s incarceration rate of 370 per 100,000 residents significantly outpaces neighboring states, with a prominent proportion of inmates returning due to technical parole violations related to substance abuse.
Ryan Kolbeck, a Sioux Falls criminal justice attorney, highlighted the lack of rehabilitation programs for incarcerated individuals battling addiction. He argues that without addressing the root causes of criminal behavior, such as substance abuse and inadequate support, new facilities will eventually be overcrowded.
Concerns about incarceration disparities are also underscored, as Native Americans represent about 35% of the prison population despite making up only 10% of the state’s total demographic. As the task force, led by Lieutenant Governor Tony Venhuizen, progresses in its planning for new facilities, the conversation around criminal justice reform remains limited, with significant legislative changes appearing unlikely in the near future.
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