Allegations of Misinformation from Prison System Critics Emerge

South Dakota’s $650 Million Prison Plan Addresses Overcrowding, Faces Misinformation

South Dakota is moving forward with plans for a new men’s correctional facility following unanimous approval from the Project Prison Reset Task Force and subsequent endorsement by the state legislature. The planned 1,500-bed facility in the Sioux Falls area will include 1,200 multi-level cells and 300 dorm-style beds, with construction quality designed to last a century.

The project, which carries a maximum price tag of $650 million, has received unanimous support from the state’s Police Chiefs’ and Sheriff’s Associations, the State’s Attorney Association, County Commissioners Association, and the attorney general.

Despite this broad consensus among law enforcement and justice officials, State Representative John Hughes has identified what he calls a campaign of misinformation surrounding the prison plan that needs addressing.

“A handful of shrill critics are spreading false claims that the new men’s prison is a money-making human trafficking scheme to import out-of-state prisoners for money and that it is a maximum security prison with 2,100 beds for 39 people,” Hughes noted. “No evidence is offered to support these inflammatory claims, and there is none.”

Hughes clarified that South Dakota does not sell beds to house inmates from other states. Rather, the state participates in an interstate compact that allows states to exchange inmates for legitimate security reasons, including staff safety, inmate security, witness protection, and separating gang members. These transfers do not generate profit, and inmates are returned to their home states before release.

The new facility’s design as a Level V security classification has also been misunderstood, according to Hughes. “A Level V facility is like having a five-speed manual transmission in your pickup. It just means that you have all five gears available when you need them,” he explained. This classification allows the facility to house inmates of various security levels as needed, not just maximum-security offenders.

The plan includes repurposing the existing Jameson Annex, which currently houses about 500 inmates. It will be converted to accommodate specialty populations including offenders with serious mental illness, health concerns, those requiring protective custody, and those participating in sex offender treatment programs.

Hughes also addressed confusion about the total bed count. The new prison will have 1,500 total beds—not 2,100 as some have claimed. He explained that critics may be incorrectly adding the capacity of Jameson Annex (576 beds) to the new facility’s 1,500 beds and rounding up.

The concrete construction standard for the cells is designed for durability rather than indicating maximum security. “Using cheaper construction materials would require constant repair and periodic replacement of damaged walls,” Hughes explained.

The new facility will allow for relocating approximately 800 medium security inmates from the old penitentiary, 300 medium security inmates from the overcrowded prison in Springfield, and additional inmates from overcrowded minimum security centers.

Hughes emphasized the importance of treating incarcerated individuals with dignity while maintaining public safety. “We help ourselves when we provide opportunities for inmates who desire to work for a better future for themselves and their families,” he said. “Though they have lost the right to move freely among us, each offender is a part of our South Dakota community.”

The representative concluded by stressing the importance of providing pathways to rehabilitation: “It is critical that we provide the opportunity and the pathway for a better future, as this in the end will make for a safer and secure future for us all.”