(Sioux Falls, SD) — Sioux Falls leaders and state officials meet to tackle public safety challenges as plans for a new men’s prison move forward. At a panel Tuesday, law enforcement and policymakers agreed the state must invest more upfront to support local public safety. With a 650-million-dollar, 15-hundred-bed facility on the table, public safety leaders warn Sioux Falls will see more parolees, repeat offenders, and pressure on local law enforcement. Mayor TenHaken and Police Chief Thum say parole-related crime already drives much of the city’s caseload. Officials agree that more support, funding, and housing with wraparound services will be essential. Lawmakers will take up the prison funding proposal in a special session this September.
