SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Family members of inmates in the State Penitentiary gathered on Thursday night to share their concerns about how the recent lockdown has been handled and are asking for inmates to get phone and shower privileges reinstated.
The South Dakota State Penitentiary and Jameson Annex in Sioux Falls went into lockdown status at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday. The DOC said the lockdown was not in a response to a fight or an assault and the lockdown remains in place as of Friday afternoon.
“Nobody’s given us any further notice of what’s going on or why things are happening the way they are. It’s just they’re locked down until further notice and that’s all and that’s not OK,” said Antoinette Kendall, a family member who was at the meeting.
The organization of concerned family members and community members, South Dakotans Impacted by Incarceration, said they’ve had this meeting planned for months to address the ongoing issues at South Dakota correctional facilities.
Kendall has three family members currently in the penitentiary and another that was recently transferred from the State Pen to an out of state prison with no notice. Kendall claims that during lockdowns, inmates’ access to phone calls are restricted, they’re only allowed to shower every four days and only eat every 12-14 hours.
“Just a little simple things, a shower or a phone call, being able to pick up the phone call and talk to somebody,” Kendall said. “You’re already stripped of everything, you should at least be able to reach out to your family.”
KELOLAND News reached out to the South Dakota Department of Corrections to confirm inmates’ phone access, showers and meals. DOC spokesperson Miachel Winder said they would not answer questions regarding the lockdown and reiterated information from a Thursday press release. The DOC released photos of some of the “dangerous and illicit contraband” found after searches since the lockdown.
“Phone service for offenders is being managed, including periods of time when phone service is disabled, for the duration of the lockdown,” the release said. “Offenders are receiving all meals and prescribed medications in their cells. Offenders do have access to commissary services as well as medical and mental health professionals during the lockdown period.”
Kendall said she traveled from Colorado to attend the meeting on Thursday. She used to live in South Dakota and grew up on the Pine Ridge Reservation, but after serving seven years herself for marijuana possession, she left the state in 2015. She’s hoping the environment for inmates can change from when she was in prison.
“Those people are already suffering,” she said. “They’ve already got life taken away from them for whatever reason they’re in there. They’re still human beings and they should be able to be treated like human beings.”
All four of Kendall’s relatives are members of Native American tribes in South Dakota. She’s been keeping extensive notes of their phone calls and condition in a green notebook. Not only is she worried about her family members’ general safety, she said she’s worried their religious rights are being violated because of their race.
“As for Native Americans, they’re taking away the beading, the ability to use our culture just like churches for other people, Native American heritage is for us,” Kendall said. “That is our given right to be able to do that. … It’s just that everybody’s rights need to be everybody’s rights. It needs to be on the same board for everybody. It should never matter the color of your skin.”
Malinda Hutchinson used to have family members in prison in South Dakota and like Kendall, she wants to see a change in the prison system. She attended the meeting on Thursday to offer support to others with family members inside and advocate for better living conditions for inmates.
“It’s not good,” Hutchinson said. “They’re already locked down, so how are you gonna lock them down some more? You know, it’s just, it’s creating more chaos.”
The South Dakota State Employees Organization helps advocate for and enhance South Dakota employee working conditions. SDSEO’s Executive Director Eric Ollila said correctional facility lockdowns don’t allow for anything to be moved from inmate to inmate.
“I think that the lockdown enhances safety for the staff and for the inmates just in the fact that any contraband can’t be moved during the lockdown,” Ollila said.
