Prison rehabilitation, recidivism ‘quickly forgotten’ by lawmakers this session, legislator says

Prison rehabilitation, recidivism ‘quickly forgotten’ by lawmakers this session, legislator says

SIOUX FALLS — Last year, lawmakers coalesced around the need to improve rehabilitation programming and reduce recidivism rates as part of a broader investment in South Dakota’s prison system. Those two issues were sticking points in an ultimately successful effort to approve construction of a men’s prison. Yet during the 2026 legislative session that wrapped up earlier this month, few bills were brought forward to address inmate rehabilitation n…