Task Force Wants a Cheaper Plan for New Men's Prison

Prison task force nixes Lincoln County prison site, lowers construction cost to $600M

A South Dakota committee, responsible for crafting a proposal for a new prison in the state, took major steps in fine-tuning its recommendation. The Project Prison Reset Task Force, a group of state lawmakers and governmental officials, met June 3 in Pierre to discuss several proposed sites for a new men's prison facility, which officials at the state Department of Corrections want to build to address severe overcrowding and other issues affecti…

Mitchell leaders line up June forums, public input sessions on proposed $600M state prison

MITCHELL — The Mitchell Area Development Corporation and Chamber of Commerce announced Wednesday that a series of public forums will be held in June regarding a proposal for South Dakota’s new state prison to be built outside Mitchell. To ensure transparency and encourage public input, a Mitchell Prison Task Force made up of city and county officials, community leaders, and representatives from the Governor’s Office — will hold the following pub…

Prison task force rejects original Lincoln County site, tightens budget for new facility • South Dakota Searchlight

Mike Quinn and Mike Conder of Arrington Watkins consultants in Phoenix, speak to members of the Project Prison Reset work group on June 3, 2025 in Pierre, SD. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)PIERRE – After years of political upheaval, court battles and legislative tugs-of-war, the plan to build a new men’s prison in Lincoln County south of Harrisburg is dead. Members of the Project Prison Reset work group spent more than eight hours at …

Task force wants a cheaper plan for new men's prison

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) -- Members of Gov. Larry Rhoden's Project Prison Reset task force have ruled out various sites for a new men's prison, including the Lincoln County site where work had already begun. The group instead now wants proposals for 1,500 to 1,700 men's beds, capped at $600 million for everything, including furnishings and possibly land, at or near the current state Department of Corrections sites in Sioux Falls and Springfield, as w…

Prison task force rejects original Lincoln Co. site, tightens budget for new facility

PIERRE – After years of political upheaval, court battles and legislative tugs-of-war, the plan to build a new men’s prison in Lincoln County south of Harrisburg is dead.

Mitchell, Worthing sites advance but Lincoln County out for potential new prison

PIERRE — After years of political upheaval, court battles and legislative tugs-of-war, the plan to build a new men’s prison in Lincoln County south of Harrisburg is dead. Members of the Project Prison Reset work group spent more than eight hours at the Capitol on Tuesday running through possible site locations, building designs, budget needs and public comments before voting unanimously to scratch the original site from its list of replacement o…