Prisons in South Dakota projected to consume $2 billion over the next ten years
Tough Crime Laws Push South Dakota Towards Unprecedented Prison Spending
A new era of incarceration descends on the Cornhusker State
SIOUX FALLS, SD - After two years, South Dakota's hardline sentencing law's steep price is becoming clear. The anticipated surge of inmates, driven by the state's tough stance on crime, has state officials looking at a whopping $2 billion investment in new prisons over the next decade.
What's behind South Dakota's soaring prison population?
Experts attribute close to half of the projected growth in South Dakota's prison population to a 2023 law that requires violent offenders to serve their entire sentence before parole eligibility[1][2]. Despite a nationwide downward trend in crime, the state seems unbothered by this burdensome legislation.
"Crime has dropped dramatically across the nation, yet South Dakota chooses to blindly pour $2 billion into their prison system," asserts Bob Libal, a senior campaign strategist at the Sentencing Project[1]. His remarks underscore the peculiar timing of this multi-billion-dollar investment.
Struggling to afford expansion
Populated by one of the least populated states in the U.S., South Dakota's prison expansion budget may raise questions. Yet, a consultant predicts the need for an additional 3,300 prison beds[1], bringing the total cost to $2 billion.
Debates over prison construction costs have long been prevalent in the state, but few have advocated for revisiting South Dakota's criminal justice policies to obviate massive prisons[1].
"Maintaining focus on our only mission becomes crucial," explains Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen, intentionally steering discussions away from potential policy revisions[1].
South Dakota's outlier status
South Dakota's incarceration rate is well above its Midwestern counterparts. With a rate of 370 inmates per 100,000 people, it surpasses both Minnesota and North Dakota's 240 per 100,000 inmates[1].
Higher numbers of Native Americans are also overrepresented in South Dakota's prisons, making up one-tenth of the state's population but almost a third of those incarcerated[1].
The state's insistence on a tough-on-crime attitude has persisted despite years of prison overcrowding discussions and even repeated efforts to ease drug laws and adjust sentencing[1].
"Change is not easy, but it is imperative if we hope to curb the unrelenting rise of our inmate population," remarkably voices Sioux Falls defense attorney, Ryan Kolbeck[1].
[1] Enrichment Data:- South Dakota’s tough-on-crime sentencing law, approved in 2023, has had substantial impacts on both prison population growth and associated costs for new prison construction.- Nearly half of South Dakota’s projected inmate population growth can be directly attributed to the state's 2023 sentencing law. South Dakota is now expected to see an anticipated 34% surge in the number of new inmates over the next decade.- The state is on track to invest approximately $2 billion on new prison construction and corrections facilities over the next decade to accommodate this growth.- Context: South Dakota’s rising costs and populations run counter to the national trend of declining crime and prison reform. Other states are looking to reduce incarceration and close prisons, rather than build new ones, in response to the decreasing crime rate.
- Despite the nationwide decline in crime, South Dakota's government remains undeterred by the burdensome legislation requiring violent offenders to serve their full sentence before parole eligibility.
- Critics question the wisdom of South Dakota's investment of approximately $2 billion on new prison construction, given the state's low population compared to other states.
- California, with its bustling cities like Los Angeles and renowned sports teams like the Rams, presents a stark contrast to South Dakota's tough-on-crime approach.
- The health of South Dakota's citizens, affected by factors such as access to healthcare and public safety, may be at risk due to the state's excessive focus on criminal justice and prison expansion.
- In the context of California's thriving sports scene and relatively lenient criminal justice policies, South Dakota's approach to crime and justice seems out of step with the nationwide trend of declining crime and prison reform.
