PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Larry Rhoden has released the draft legislation for a new prison, a move that brings the state one step closer to replacing the aging State Penitentiary. The legislation is set to be considered in a special session of the South Dakota Legislature and reflects the plan unanimously approved by a prison task force.
The proposed new prison, with a legislatively-imposed maximum cost of $650 million, would be a 1,500-bed men’s facility in northeast Sioux Falls. The design includes 1,200 beds in cells and 300 in a dormitory. The facility, designed to last for 100 years, will use durable materials and modern security. A consultant has verified the bed count, and the contractor has provided written assurance the project will be at or below budget.
“We are one step closer to delivering a new prison to replace the 140-year-old State Penitentiary,” Rhoden said. “We have a good site, a good plan, the money to pay for it, and now the legislation to authorize it. I look forward to working with legislators to get this bill passed.”
The funding for the project includes a current cash balance of $505 million in the Incarceration Construction Fund, supplemented by earned interest and a needed transfer of $78.8 million from the General Revenue Replacement Fund. The legislation was drafted in consultation with legislative leadership, members of the prison task force, and the Legislative Research Council. The special session is set for Sept. 23.
The effort to build a new prison has been a key issue in South Dakota, with previous plans to build in Lincoln County failing to gain legislative support. The new plan, endorsed by the task force led by Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen, aims to build consensus to address overcrowding in the state’s Department of Corrections facilities. The project will not require financial contributions from the city or county and is intended for state-adjudicated adult offenders, not illegal immigrant detainees.
More info can be found here: https://governor.sd.gov/priorities/PrisonFAQ.aspx