Major problems with prisons and adjacent facilities were pointed out to members of the South Dakota Legislature’s Government Operations and Audit Committee this week (May 16, 2022).
Corrections Department Secretary Kellie Wasko says she has been at every facility in the system.
Wasko says the women’s prison in Pierre is especially alarming.
Wasko says the women’s prison is one of two critical situations right now.
Wasko says a consultant’s report found many managers held multiple jobs.
Wasko says the management structure was neither effective nor efficient.
Wasko says they are also doing a study of staffing levels and assignments.
A separate study has called for spending up to $600 million to replace and upgrade most of the prisons in the state system.
The committee took no action on the reports.
(News partner WNAX contributed to this story.)
