Members of the advisory board that oversees state prison operations want to meet more often, tour facilities and keep a closer eye on inmate work and rehabilitation programs.
The Corrections Commission met virtually a week and a day after lawmakers voted during a special legislative session to build a $650 million, 1,500-bed men’s prison in northeast Sioux Falls.
By law, the commission must approve any spending on prison industry programming. It’s also meant to assist the Department of Corrections “in examining criminal justice issues and developing initiatives to address problems in corrections and the criminal justice system.”
The group’s scope of inquiry has narrowed considerably in recent years, however. The commission had no formal role in planning for the new men’s prison, and corrections officials told its members and lawmakers in 2023 and 2024 that the body’s only job was to approve prison industry spending.
Rep. Ernie Otten, R-Tea, who left the group earlier this year, said during a 2024 commission meeting that it’s “the biggest waste of time I’ve ever had to endure.”
Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko did not take part in Wednesday’s meeting. Wasko tendered her resignation to Gov. Larry Rhoden at the start of September, and will step down Oct. 20.
New members, new focus
Rep. Kadyn Wittman, D-Sioux Falls, and Rep. John Hughes, R-Sioux Falls, were each appointed to the commission this year. Wittman was elected to lead the group at its May meeting.
On Wednesday, both new members said the group needs to meet more than twice a year so it can dig deeper and keep a closer eye on operations.
“There’s a lot of moving parts with the recent funding of the new prison,” said Wittman, who noted Gov. Rhoden’s intent to appoint a rehabilitation task force in the coming months. “Knowing that the next few years are going to be really focused on policy, this could be a great working group for us to keep our finger on the pulse of that conversation.”
Wittman and Hughes both said they’d like to serve on the rehabilitation task force.
Rebranded prison industries
They also had operational questions for Rene Stolsmark, head of the prison system’s in-house employer, Pheasantland Industries.
You can read the full article at South Dakota Searchlight.