On July 7th, the Encompassing Youth Reform Conference was held in Sioux Falls. This event was hosted by Representatives Schwans, Soye, Baxter, Novstrup and Senator Hohn. There were 33 House and Senate Representatives in attendance, as well as 7 Superintendents from the surrounding areas and 9 youth facilities and their directors from across the state. The organizations included McCrossan’s Boys Ranch, LSS, Brighter Transitions YTC & Falls Academy, Abbott House, Aurora Plains, Children’s Home Society, Our Home, Sacred Heart Academy, and Wellfully.
The day was filled with inspirational messages and collaborative conversations to create strategies for our at-risk youth and to focus on solutions to help prevent youth incarceration. This is a door opened by many in the past but we’re HOPEful that we can find a newfound way to address these concerns.
In the morning, we heard from a panel of formerly incarcerated individuals and current inmate family members. They spoke of the current conditions at the State Penitentiary and the struggles they have faced including canceled in-person visitation, lockdowns, questionable meals, physical restraint methods, and the canceling of the work-release program. It is clear that policy reforms need to be made and a new facility will not solve all of these problems.
The superintendents spoke about the impact of Senate Bill 73, which was passed before our time in office. This complicated bill made it so that juveniles could only be detained if they committed an act of physical violence or sexual assault. All other offenses received probation. This change led to schools dealing with juvenile offenders rather than the DOC. Schools are clearly not designed to serve as rehabilitation centers and this adds cost and detracts from the goal of educating students. One story told was of a teenager who received probation from the same judge 24 times in 12 months. He told the judge that he didn’t care about his actions because the judge couldn’t do anything to him. We believe this law needs to be changed or repealed and the state needs to reopen a facility like Star Academy where juvenile offenders can receive rehabilitation to prevent them from ending up in our State Penitentiary as adults.
The afternoon segment started with a tour at McCrossan’s Boys Ranch, which has been in full operation for 70 years. What an impact they have made in South Dakota and many other states, to support young men and create successful lives. We then proceeded to a full preventive panel discussion with each facility representative in attendance and how they run their daily operations. We discussed successes and challenges which was followed by a legislator question and answer segment. It was a full day, but a much needed conversation. To not only focus on prisons but preventive measures, counseling and treatments that support our SD youth and connect with the problems they are facing today.
Like Rep. Schwans has always said “we can’t change, what we don’t acknowledge!” We just have to be willing to create the ripple effect…
Project Prison Reset met for its 4th and final meeting on Tuesday, July 8th in Sioux Falls. This 22-member task force followed Governor Larry Rhoden’s Executive Order directives and functions.
A. Assess and determine the need for a new prison facility
B. Engage and analyze consultant recommendations on size and design of a new prison facility
C. Determine options for the optimal location of a new prison facility
In the morning, we were presented with fourteen options, DOC Employee Survey and Results and heard public comments. The task force was committed to finding the best solution to a serious, complex, and growing challenge facing our state. The Mitchell and Worthing sites were dropped, but two new Sioux Falls sites were considered. Both of the Sioux Falls sites are located east of I229, north of Rice Street and south of Bensen Road.
The overall capacity of the men’s prison system currently stands at 134%. Department of Corrections Secretary Wasco stated the goal was to reduce capacity to 95%. The task force unanimously agreed not to spend more than $650 million for a 100 year facility with 1500 beds located in one of the two Sioux Falls locations. Senator Hohn was honored to be part of the prison task force. The proposal will next be considered by the full legislature.
Initial Incarceration, Reentry Analysis, and Comparison of Relevant States Interim Committee was formed this year to address our recidivism rates, holding their first meeting in Sioux Falls on June 24th. Their next meeting will be in Rapid City on July 16th.
Lots going on in our state!
This article was written in collaboration by your District 9 legislators,
Representative Tesa Schwans,
Representative Bethany Soye, and
Senator Joy Hohn
