Rep. Kevin Jensen of District 16 ( maybe in Senate side now) has been all over opposing this move. 1. There is plenty of space available right north of Jameson Annex at the current site if a new Wing is needed. 2. We need to look at every inmate's non-violent offender status and figure out a restitution plan on a case by case basis. Yes, lock up the violent offenders, no question there, but we've got to get creative and figure out ways to restore many that are non-violent offenders that are just being warehoused currently. 3. Also, they've done away with some of the hands on technical programs at the State Pen, so you have that issue, too. Why don't they make deals with Construction companies, et.al that want and NEED labor, so they can get skills as part of early WORK release programs? It can be done, stop the warehouse. We can't build our way out of this and bleed the taxpayer to death.
Interesting. Work release could provide training that would help prevent repeat activity. Sounds like a win-win. Also, good to hear that people are looking at ways to avoid warehousing for non-violent people.
PostScript on this 1500 bed prison-building proposal in Lincoln County by Douglass Weber, a former Chief & DOC warden recently stated: "It is the most expensive building project for Corrections that I have ever come across, ever read about, and I couldn’t even imagine.” He went further and said the existing facility at Jameson was built to make it expandable, to add two more tiers of jail cells but the build-out was never made. "If this sails through as it is now, South Dakota will be left with a $1 billion albatross" ( from the Dakota Scout). I hope the Legislators make repairs as needed to existing facilities and figure out ways to get non-violent offenders out of the warehouse and onto work release and restitution status efforts but this 1500 bed (which is more than twice the amount per bed than current new builds compared to other states!!) billion dollar boondoggle is not the way forward.
Thank you for another informative article. An immature statement discredits the persons who make blanket assumptions about being “typical”. Ironic person left the state needs to comment. 🙄 This is a county-wide/state-wide concern affecting all residents. I have no idea the party affiliation. Plenty of concerned people at the meeting didn’t care or mention party.
Kellie Wasko has an interesting past. She’s in charge of our prison now. They have reduce staffing, moved gangs in with the general population our only death row prisoner is in violation of state law mingling with the general population, why?
It’s almost like the reduced staffing having guards placed alone where there used to be two, then getting beaten by prisoners. Is someone , hoping for an uprising in the prison or something worse in order to drive home the illusion that we need this billion and a half dollar prison.
The state already spent $300,000 on a study which shows for 600 million multiple facilities can be upgraded and the main state prison can increase capacity by over 200.
I hope South Dakotans are done with the shenanigans and the cronyism.
Based only on population, that would be my guess. I guess the better selection would be to survey the prisoners and see where thay come from. Exclude Mexico of course.
A lot of places in South Dakota are hard to get to. But at least it ain't as long as Illinoise or Californicate. I suspect visits from family might help the prisoners have a better perspective but that wold mean more and smaller facilities spread around.And maybe that wouldn't be a bad thing. Bud
Does it seem a bit unreasonable that we did not allow them in and we have to pay? Sounds like a handout to lawyers like Taneeza Islam and a taxburden for us. Why is this logical?
The current prison is very old and likely obsolete. As a relatively new resident, who's background includes being a prosecuting attorney, I observed that South Dakota seems to incarcerated a relatively large number of people for nonviolent offenses, people who really aren't a threat to the general population. Is the prison population larger than it needs to be? Is a location near the southeast corner of the state efficient? Should there be two or three smaller prisons distributed around the state rather than one large prison? One thing I know from my managerial experience is that "we've always done it that way" isn't a reason to keep doing it that way because it isn't necessarily the most efficient way. A new prison is a long term investment and to think it should be paid for without using long term bonding is bizarre, especially if it's necessary to defund other valuable programs to provide the funds. One big facility will be more difficult to adequately service and staff than two or three smaller ones in diverse locations. I bet there are other locations that are much more cost effective.
It’s getting very apparent that whomever we vote in to represent us out here close their ears once they get voted in. They abuse taxpayers money, bypass and find loopholes to get what they want without any kind of meetings with the people, sneaky snakes. Sounds like there’s some inside information being passed around so certain persons can get in on benefits of this prison. We have wide open areas which would be good for a prison so if there is an escape they have to travel miles without any cover. As far as a new prison it’s probably inevitable with rising crime everywhere, yes even South Dakota! How old are our prisons anyway! People are going to have to get involved more in what’s going on in everything, don’t assume it all okay and life goes on, that’s how this country got where we’re at in the first place under corrupt Biden and his shadow run Government.
The cause of closed ears is single party rule. There's no reason for politicians to listen to constituents if they know they'll be reelected simply because they are on the "R" ticket. The problem in South Dakota rests in South Dakota and has nothing to do with "corrupt Joe Biden."
The most recent addition to the state prison in Sioux Falls was built I believe in 1993 the original building which is old and actually grand looking on the outside is completely updated meeting all modern standards. Also, the annex portion built in the 1990s is designed to have a second floor on it. Why isn’t that option being explored?
Thanks for catching the typo! We don't use AI, so this happens from time to time. Glad you all are on it and are catching the mistakes. Correction made.
They, don’t own the land. It was unclaimed property and that whole affair has enough steam to cost many lives. We own the land. When is our judicial system going to stop allowing state officials to throw us under the bus with litigious law fare. This prison industry is close to the largest industry in the state. Let them, (the profiteers) build it and demand from them a system that rewards reusults. We are in the very final stage of freedom if we don’t address our county commissions and our legis with the peoples rights.
Thanks Les. Could you tell us how unclaimed property works legally? Agree with the logics that the taxpayers are paying the state employees so ultimately these employees report to the taxpayers.
Rep. Kevin Jensen of District 16 ( maybe in Senate side now) has been all over opposing this move. 1. There is plenty of space available right north of Jameson Annex at the current site if a new Wing is needed. 2. We need to look at every inmate's non-violent offender status and figure out a restitution plan on a case by case basis. Yes, lock up the violent offenders, no question there, but we've got to get creative and figure out ways to restore many that are non-violent offenders that are just being warehoused currently. 3. Also, they've done away with some of the hands on technical programs at the State Pen, so you have that issue, too. Why don't they make deals with Construction companies, et.al that want and NEED labor, so they can get skills as part of early WORK release programs? It can be done, stop the warehouse. We can't build our way out of this and bleed the taxpayer to death.
Interesting. Work release could provide training that would help prevent repeat activity. Sounds like a win-win. Also, good to hear that people are looking at ways to avoid warehousing for non-violent people.
PostScript on this 1500 bed prison-building proposal in Lincoln County by Douglass Weber, a former Chief & DOC warden recently stated: "It is the most expensive building project for Corrections that I have ever come across, ever read about, and I couldn’t even imagine.” He went further and said the existing facility at Jameson was built to make it expandable, to add two more tiers of jail cells but the build-out was never made. "If this sails through as it is now, South Dakota will be left with a $1 billion albatross" ( from the Dakota Scout). I hope the Legislators make repairs as needed to existing facilities and figure out ways to get non-violent offenders out of the warehouse and onto work release and restitution status efforts but this 1500 bed (which is more than twice the amount per bed than current new builds compared to other states!!) billion dollar boondoggle is not the way forward.
Wow!
South Dakota Voices Response: Dewey, thanks for catching the mistake. Change made.
Email comment from DG: "rouge is for cheeks. You want rogue"
The days when citizens could just sit back and leave the decision making to the politicians, bureaucrats and corporations are over.
It is time. In fact, it is long past time, that "We the People" stand up and take our cities, counties, states, and country back.
There should never again be a public meeting of a commission, board, council, etc. where the public isn't well represented and active.
There should never again be an election, even for dog catcher, when less than 80% of the eligible voters vote.
They act like spoiled children when they don't get their way because "We the People" have failed to discipline them.
Interesting perspective.
Thank you for another informative article. An immature statement discredits the persons who make blanket assumptions about being “typical”. Ironic person left the state needs to comment. 🙄 This is a county-wide/state-wide concern affecting all residents. I have no idea the party affiliation. Plenty of concerned people at the meeting didn’t care or mention party.
Typical Republican SD. One of many reasons why I left the state
I understand the https://nopelincoln.com/ group has people from all political affiliations. Have you heard something different?
As a NOPE member, I can tell you this is true. We are as different as can be!
Kellie Wasko has an interesting past. She’s in charge of our prison now. They have reduce staffing, moved gangs in with the general population our only death row prisoner is in violation of state law mingling with the general population, why?
It’s almost like the reduced staffing having guards placed alone where there used to be two, then getting beaten by prisoners. Is someone , hoping for an uprising in the prison or something worse in order to drive home the illusion that we need this billion and a half dollar prison.
The state already spent $300,000 on a study which shows for 600 million multiple facilities can be upgraded and the main state prison can increase capacity by over 200.
I hope South Dakotans are done with the shenanigans and the cronyism.
Interesting information. Do you know where we can get a copy of the study?
State Representative Kevin Jensen
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/toby-doeden-unfiltered/id1782234296?i=1000681776246
Thank you.
Placing a prison near a large population (notice I said near and not in) makes it easier for familes to visit their incarcerated relatives.
Interesting thought. Do most families of incarcerated people live in the Sioux Falls area?
Based only on population, that would be my guess. I guess the better selection would be to survey the prisoners and see where thay come from. Exclude Mexico of course.
Easier to visit only for residents of the large population. The southeast corner of the state isn't easy to visit from west river.
10-4
A lot of places in South Dakota are hard to get to. But at least it ain't as long as Illinoise or Californicate. I suspect visits from family might help the prisoners have a better perspective but that wold mean more and smaller facilities spread around.And maybe that wouldn't be a bad thing. Bud
Maybe a way to cash in on housing Illegal invaders who violated Federal laws waiting to be deported. It will take years.
Paying cash to house them from US GOVERNMENT
Does it seem a bit unreasonable that we did not allow them in and we have to pay? Sounds like a handout to lawyers like Taneeza Islam and a taxburden for us. Why is this logical?
The current prison is very old and likely obsolete. As a relatively new resident, who's background includes being a prosecuting attorney, I observed that South Dakota seems to incarcerated a relatively large number of people for nonviolent offenses, people who really aren't a threat to the general population. Is the prison population larger than it needs to be? Is a location near the southeast corner of the state efficient? Should there be two or three smaller prisons distributed around the state rather than one large prison? One thing I know from my managerial experience is that "we've always done it that way" isn't a reason to keep doing it that way because it isn't necessarily the most efficient way. A new prison is a long term investment and to think it should be paid for without using long term bonding is bizarre, especially if it's necessary to defund other valuable programs to provide the funds. One big facility will be more difficult to adequately service and staff than two or three smaller ones in diverse locations. I bet there are other locations that are much more cost effective.
It’s getting very apparent that whomever we vote in to represent us out here close their ears once they get voted in. They abuse taxpayers money, bypass and find loopholes to get what they want without any kind of meetings with the people, sneaky snakes. Sounds like there’s some inside information being passed around so certain persons can get in on benefits of this prison. We have wide open areas which would be good for a prison so if there is an escape they have to travel miles without any cover. As far as a new prison it’s probably inevitable with rising crime everywhere, yes even South Dakota! How old are our prisons anyway! People are going to have to get involved more in what’s going on in everything, don’t assume it all okay and life goes on, that’s how this country got where we’re at in the first place under corrupt Biden and his shadow run Government.
The cause of closed ears is single party rule. There's no reason for politicians to listen to constituents if they know they'll be reelected simply because they are on the "R" ticket. The problem in South Dakota rests in South Dakota and has nothing to do with "corrupt Joe Biden."
The most recent addition to the state prison in Sioux Falls was built I believe in 1993 the original building which is old and actually grand looking on the outside is completely updated meeting all modern standards. Also, the annex portion built in the 1990s is designed to have a second floor on it. Why isn’t that option being explored?
Interesting question
Going "rouge"? Or rogue?
Thanks for catching the typo! We don't use AI, so this happens from time to time. Glad you all are on it and are catching the mistakes. Correction made.
They, don’t own the land. It was unclaimed property and that whole affair has enough steam to cost many lives. We own the land. When is our judicial system going to stop allowing state officials to throw us under the bus with litigious law fare. This prison industry is close to the largest industry in the state. Let them, (the profiteers) build it and demand from them a system that rewards reusults. We are in the very final stage of freedom if we don’t address our county commissions and our legis with the peoples rights.
Thanks Les. Could you tell us how unclaimed property works legally? Agree with the logics that the taxpayers are paying the state employees so ultimately these employees report to the taxpayers.
Does it not appear from our Gov address that unclaimed funds are now a regular leg of our financial support system?