South Dakota expected to allocate $2 billion for prison funds within the next ten years.
Let's Talk Prisons: South Dakota's Billion-Dollar Bet on Tough Sentencing
South Dakotan hustle — Two years since approving a hardline approach to crime, the Mountain West state is grappling with the hefty price tag of its justice system: Building new prisons could cost a whopping $2 billion to house the expected surge of inmates in the coming decade. That's some serious dough for a state with a low population, but to curb potential overcrowding, it might be necessary, according to a consultant.
But here's the kicker: While South Dakotans are groaning over the costs, there's little worry concerning the laws driving the ever-growing prisoner population, even as crime rates nationwide are dipping.
As crime plummets across the nation, with significant drops in the past couple of years[1], it seems an unusual time to be pumping $2 billion into prisons. But that's the reality South Dakota finds itself in[2].
Democratic-led states are taking steps to reduce their inmate populations and close prisons, but going the same route in Republican-majority states like South Dakota is like trying to sell water to a fish—it's simply not in line with the local mindset that champions hardline crime policies, even if they result in more people behind bars.
Sioux Falls' Iron Castle — The old South Dakota State Penitentiary, a 144-year-old relic currently bursting at the seams with prisoners, needs to be replaced ASAP. The task to fix this mammoth issue has been handed over to state lawmakers, who've set aside a $600 million fund to revamp the aging prison, making it one of the most expensive public projects in the state's history[2].
However, South Dakota may require more than just the facilities in Sioux Falls. Arrington Watkins Architects, the firm South Dakota hired for the project, predicts that the state will need 3,300 additional prison beds, bringing the grand total to a jaw-dropping $2 billion[2].
A hefty price tag, you ask? Indeed. But it's the cost of doing business when you're running the country's prisoners on a merry-go-round of expanding infrastructure.
Hurdles Ahead — While South Dakota lawmakers are (sort of) addressing the issue by focusing on new prisons, it'll be more challenging to tackle the root causes of why people end up behind bars to begin with. As the task force assembled by South Dakota's Governor Larry Rhoden prepares to outline a plan for new prison facilities this July, they'll likely spend more time discussing infrastructure than rethinking archaic policies.
"We must maintain our focus on our mission," said Lieutenant Gov. Tony Venhuizen, task force chairman. But without changing those policies, the new prisons are bound to fill up in no time[3].
South Dakota: A White-Collar State Dealing with Blue-Collar Crime — South Dakota's incarceration rate of 370 prisoners per 100,000 people is significantly higher than its Upper Midwest neighbors, Minnesota (247) and North Dakota (250)[4].
One of the primary reasons for this discrepancy stems from a 2023 law requiring violent offenders to serve their full terms before becoming eligible for parole[2]. Additionally, South Dakota has the second-highest Native American population in prisons, with Native Americans representing 35% of state prisoners, despite making up just 10% of the total population[4].
Policing the Past, Preparing for the Future — Despite the daunting, ever-expanding prison population, there are some voices calling for a reevaluation of South Dakota's crime policies. Sioux Falls criminal justice attorney Ryan Kolbeck highlights the lack of addiction treatment programs in prisons, stating that parishioners are being sent to prison with no resources to help them overcome their addictions[3]. Without meaningful policy changes, it's a matter of when—not if—the prisons will fill up again[3].
[1] Crime Rates Resetting Records
[2] Tough-on-Crime Laws Drive Prison Expansion
[3] Thoughts from Former Penitentiary Warden Darin Young
[4] South Dakota Prison Statistics
- Amidst decreasing crime rates nationwide, South Dakota's decision to invest $2 billion in new prisons remains a point of concern for some, questioning the wisdom of such an expenditure at a time when the general trend is moving away from tough sentencing policies.
- In the world of finance and personal-finance, the colossal $2 billion price tag for South Dakota's prison expansion could be compared to long-term investments in the wealth-management industry, but critics argue that the opportunity cost of such massive public spending lies in other areas such as education, healthcare, and affordable housing.
- As the banking-and-insurance sector closely watches the unfolding drama, it's evident that the policy-and-legislation process plays a pivotal role in shaping the economic landscape, not only locally but also nationally, as demonstrated by South Dakota's recent decision on prison construction.
- The sports world, usually quiet on such matters, might find an unlikely connection through sports-betting: If crime reduction measures are successful, possibly leading to a decrease in prisoners and consequently reducing the need for expanded prison infrastructure, the funding initially designated for prisons could be diverted to drive growth in other sectors such as sports-betting, generating employment opportunities and boosting the economy.
- As the politics surrounding South Dakota's prison expansion continues to dominate headlines in the crime-and-justice and general-news categories, it's crucial to consider the broader impact of these policies on communities, industries, and individual citizens.
- Meanwhile, as the old South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls grapples with overcrowding issues, the state's lawmakers and Governor Larry Rhoden's task force are set to discuss the future of prison facilities this July. However, the conversation seems to be focused more on construction than reevaluating the root causes of crime that perpetuate the need for larger prison systems.
- The growing discrepancy in incarceration rates between South Dakota and its Upper Midwest neighbors hints towards deep-rooted issues within the state's criminal justice system, particularly concerning violence, Native American representation in prisons, and addiction treatment programs.
- The voices advocating for policy changes in South Dakota's criminal justice system are increasing, pleading for a more comprehensive approach that addresses addiction treatment and rehabilitation programs, as well as the root causes of crime, to ultimately lessen the dependency on large-scale prison expansion.
