SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Inmates have been buying items from a commissary staffed by fellow inmates in South Dakota prisons.
Department of Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko said during a Thursday DOC commission meeting the system is going well.
Still, some commission members said commissary items are more expensive now than they were with a private company operating the system.
DOC director of finance and administration Brittni Skipper said about 357 items are available from the commissary. Most of the items are less expensive than before, she said. Items that cost more are about 10 cents more, Skipper said.
One of frequent complaints from inmates before the change was the commissary was running out of items including shampoo, Wasko said.
Items such as prison TVs do cost more money, but the new TVs are corrective grade TVs. These are more durable and do not allow contraband to be easily hidden, she said.
Skipper and Wasko also updated the commission on other Pheasantland Industries operations.
Industries that lose money for six consecutive quarters are placed on corrective action, Skipper said.
The braille and upholstery departments are on corrective action.
“They provide the mattresses and pillows to the prisons,” Skipper said. “Even at a loss, it’s still less expensive than getting them from an outside contractor.”
The upholstery department had about $20,000 in sales last month and recently received another $12,000 in orders, Skipper said.
The braille department recently received two orders from the state of Utah, Skipper said.
Braille finished the fourth quarter on June 30, with a net loss of 15,545.
The cabinets department had been moved from the Sioux Falls facility to the Springfield facility because the products are used in the Governor’s housing program. The department had a net income of $36,356 in the fourth quarter.
The garment, license plate, print and sign program also posted operating profits in the fourth quarter.
Commission member Mark Anderson asked if there enough jobs available for inmates who will return to the community after completing their sentences.
“The short answer is yes,” Wasko said. The Metal Craft Industries in Sioux Falls is gone.
The DOC is working on a diesel mechanic training program for inmates through Southeast Technical College.
