PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — The evolving story of where a replacement for the South Dakota State Penitentiary could go appears to have some clarity.
Structure damage, split trees left behind after storm
Project Prison Reset’s task force voted Tuesday in support of building a 1,500 to 1,700-bed facility or facilities at a maximum cost of $600 million. As far as where to build, the stated preferences are at existing state Department of Corrections facilities or proposed sites in the Mitchell or Worthing areas. And while a bill to appropriate money to build a new men’s prison for a guaranteed maximum price of $825 million had already failed in Pierre in 2025, the weight of that figure was still felt Tuesday.
“Just a few months ago, we were asked as legislators to pass $825 million for this project, and we said ‘no,’ in essence,” Republican Rep. Greg Jamison of Sioux Falls said at the task force’s meeting Tuesday in Pierre.
The task force, launched by South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden following the legislative failure, has already unanimously voted in support of replacing the state penitentiary. Now, they are looking at where… and how. Republican Rep. Scott Odenbach of the Spearfish area, who like Jamison sits on the task force, made the motion to support building for 1,500-1,700 beds at no more than $600 million.
“That $600 million number is maybe more likely to be palatable to a two-thirds majority of the legislature, and we have to consider that,” Odenbach said. “So, that’s why I’ve done it that way.”
That proposal eventually earned unanimous support among the task force’s members. Both the Worthing- and Mitchell-area sites are near an interstate and relatively close to Sioux Falls.
“I think it’s good to provide some direction and criteria that meets what is affordable for South Dakota and for what the people of South Dakota expect from us,” said Republican Sen. Chris Karr of Sioux Falls, who is also on the task force. “There’s what’s ideal, and then there’s the reality of what we can afford. I think this is a good starting point. In this motion, it says that the office of the state engineer and their contractors shall develop options.”
“This allows us to at least get that information,” task force member and Republican Rep. Jon Hansen of the Dell Rapids area said. “What’s possible within the budget parameters that we’re setting now, and then we can get that information and make our decision from there.”
And options are all they are right now. No plans were finalized Tuesday night in Pierre, and there will be no shovels digging into dirt on Wednesday. And while a possible path forward has come into focus, the mood among the task force is not totally enthusiastic.
“I’m going to support this motion today because I do think we owe ourselves these answers,” said Democratic Rep. Erin Healy of Sioux Falls, who sits on the task force as well. “I’m nervous about what we’re going to find.”
“Yes, I’ll support it,” task force member and Democratic Sen. Jamie Smith of Sioux Falls said. “But it’s hard to support spending that much money when there’s other things I know that we could do that keep people out of prison.”
The task force’s next meeting is scheduled for July 8. Eventually, the plan is for a special session of the state legislature to learn about the group’s recommendations.
