(Sioux Falls, SD) — South Dakota is one step closer to building a new men’s state prison. After months of work, the Project Prison Reset is recommending a 650-million-dollar, 15-hundred-bed facility on the northeast side of Sioux Falls. Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko calls it major progress. She says the current prison, built in 1881, is outdated and unsafe for both staff and inmates. The new design would be campus-style, with better visibility, safer cell doors, and more privacy for inmates. It would also include dedicated space for addiction treatment and mental health services, something Wasko says is badly needed. The proposal is now heading to the legislature. Even if approved, the new prison is still years away. In the meantime, Wasko says she’s asking for more staff to meet growing needs at the existing facility.
Corrections Secretary Wasko Backs Plan for Safer, More Modern Prison
