State Rep. Mike Derby says South Dakota should be looking to its northern counterpart for ideas on the state’s prison system.
Last week, lawmakers in South Dakota approved the construction of a $650 million prison in Sioux Falls. Governor Rhoden, who gave the new prison his final approval, also created a task force to determine how to expand rehabilitation services.
State Representative Mike Derby, in an interview with KOTA Territory News, explained that he wants the task force to study North Dakota’s criminal justice system.
“For a state of approximately the same size, demographics, and a native American population, they have about half the number of people in prison, why?” said Derby in an interview that will air on Facebook Monday.
Derby says North Dakota spends more money on initiatives to steer people away from prison and more money on trying to make sure people who serve time don’t end up reoffending.
Derby also says laws on the books may be part of the population difference, including a truth-in-sentencing law that removed parole for 13 violent crimes and required inmates convicted of 10 other crimes to serve at least 85 percent of their sentences.
Derby also pointed to other laws.
“As a legislature, you know, we talk about being tough on crime, so over the last 5 years I’ve been there, every year we bring new penalties, harsher penalties to bear, and so by doing that you’re creating a system where people stay longer in prison, so I think we got to take a look at all that” said Derby.
You can read the full article at KOTA