Time to Fix South Dakota’s Broken Prison System
- Steve Jurrens
- Sep 20
- 2 min read
Guest Column written by Fred Deutsch (unedited)
Next week, lawmakers will vote on whether to build a new state prison in Sioux Falls. At $650 million, it’s the biggest building project in South Dakota history. That price tag is hard to swallow, and people deserve clear answers before we move forward.
Here’s what we know now.
The current state penitentiary is 140 years old. It’s crumbling, overcrowded, and dangerous. We’ve seen stabbings, staff assaults, contraband smuggling, and reports of mold, pests, and failing plumbing. It is still “usable,” but at growing risk to both officers and inmates. No amount of patchwork repairs can fix a building designed in the 1800s.
The Rhoden administration has secured two new protections for taxpayers. First, contractors put in writing that the project will not cost more than $650 million. Second, if they manage to finish under budget, half the savings will go back to the state. That means the “billion-dollar prison” line that’s been thrown around simply doesn’t hold up anymore.
Opponents still raise valid concerns. They argue the Department of Corrections is in chaos after the Secretary’s resignation. They want reforms first, and they’re right that management matters. Others worry about operating costs. They predict the new facility could add tens of millions in annual expenses. That is a fair concern, and one the Governor must address honestly.
But here’s the other side: every year we delay, inflation drives costs higher. Every year we pour money into patching the old prison, we spend millions without solving the underlying problems. Most importantly, every year we leave corrections officers working in unsafe conditions and deny inmates the classrooms, counseling, and job training that help prevent repeat crimes.
The debate is no longer about whether this project will spin out of control. The fiscal safeguards are in place. The real question is whether South Dakota will build a prison that not only keeps people secure, but also gives inmates a shot at rehabilitation so they don’t return to crime once released.
We can’t afford to keep kicking the can down the road. It’s time to fix a broken system with both new walls and new approaches—because public safety and second chances should go hand in hand.
