(Box Elder, SD) — Box Elder has quickly pulled its proposal to host a new men’s prison after strong community opposition. The city submitted a site for Project Prison Reset but withdrew it within days, listening closely to residents who overwhelmingly said no. Concerns included the prison’s impact on the city’s image, workforce availability, and future development. Box Elder joins other communities like Lincoln County, Mitchell, and Worthing, where proposed prison sites have also faced pushback. City officials say public feedback helped them act fast, and now they’re looking at other ways to use the land along Highway 14-16 near I-90. The prison task force continues to explore options, including existing Department of Corrections property, with a project budget capped around 600 million dollars.
