SD penitentiary on lockdown as HB 1025 moves to JCA
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The South Dakota State Penitentiary and nearby Jameson Annex are on lockdown.
The state Department of Corrections said in a news release that the lockdown at Sioux Falls prison facilities began at 7:30 Tuesday morning. While the DOC hasn't released the reason behind the lockdown, the department says it 'is not in response to a disturbance or assault.'
The DOC declined an interview request from KELOLAND News Tuesday.
Report: New Noem DHS campaign budgeted for $200 million
The DOC's last publicly-announced lockdown at Sioux Falls prison facilities began on Sept.15 and continued until Oct. 2. A Sept. 19 release from the DOC said the lockdown was done as 'a proactive security measure to implement a full campus search and seizure for dangerous contraband.' That initial release said 'handmade weapons' and electronics were discovered.
Later in October, the DOC told a government operations and audit committee of the state legislature about contraband found during the Sioux Falls lockdown. Officers allegedly discovered sharp items including tweezers, a homemade tattoo gun and tools.
'If you have three screwdrivers that are etched, and they're bundled together, and they're concealed somewhere, they're contraband,' Secretary of Corrections Kellie Wasko said Oct. 21. 'If they are not in their designated space in the institution where they're inventory, then they are contraband.'
The House Committee on Appropriations referred House Bill 1025, which would appropriate money to build a new men's prison in Lincoln County, to the Joint Committee on Appropriations without recommendation on Tuesday in Pierre. The vote saw eight lawmakers vote in favor, while one was excused.
HB 1025 is set to appear before the Joint Committee on Appropriations on Thursday.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
ICE, rape, measles, and scattered storms
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Let's get a check on the latest in news and weather with KELOLAND On The Go. ICE agents took the 25-year-old man into custody in the courthouse lobby. The man was not a criminal defendant, but rather someone subpoenaed by the defense in a case. State's attorney: 'ICE agents acted reasonably' Authorities have arrested a Brookings man who's accused of raping a middle school student. 21-year-old Brookings man arrested for rape of minor The South Dakota Department of Health has confirmed its second case of measles in the state. South Dakota confirms 2nd case of measles in 2025 Fewer crashes are being reported at two interchanges in South Dakota. Fewer crashes at SD diverging diamond interchanges Aside from an isolated shower in southeast KELOLAND early this morning, we have dry skies and temperatures in the 50s. Scattered storms late today A South Dakota swimmer is training to compete in the Paralympic games in Los Angeles in 20-28. Alex Post: Aspiring, inspirational swimmer For the latest in news and weather, use the KELOLAND News app. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Inside KELOLAND: Task force members highlight $600 million prison cap
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — After meeting for more than eight hours in Pierre this past week, members of South Dakota's Project Prison Reset task force have narrowed the focus of where a new men's prison should be built and how big it should be. Huron company added to prison discussion On Tuesday, task force members unanimously supported building a facility, or multiple, at existing Department of Corrections spots or at proposed sites in the Worthing or Mitchell areas. The state has previously spent more than $50 million in land purchase and design costs for a new men's prison in rural Lincoln County at a site that has now been officially rejected by the task force. The goal is to build new prison facilities to house 1,500 to 1,700 inmates with a maximum cost of $600 million. JE Dunn Construction has been tasked with bringing proposals in front of the task force at its July meeting. On this week's Inside KELOLAND, Republican Sen. Chris Karr and Democratic Sen. Jamie Smith shared what they took away from the task force's latest decisions. Karr said state lawmakers have challenged contractors and the state engineer to provide options that meet the 1,500 beds and no more than $600 million price tag. 'I look forward to hearing back at our next meeting about what they come up for us for options,' Karr said. Karr said the previous price tag for a men's prison in Lincoln County at the cost of $825 million was too high to get the necessary two-thirds majority vote in the House and Senate to be approved. 'We need to do something,' Karr said, who added the Department of Corrections' design choices of a campus style prison that is built to last 100 years dicated some of the higher costs. Smith said the longer the state continues to delay taking action, the more expensive future prison needs will become. 'If we only spend the $600 million, we've got to make sure that this is the right thing to build,' Smith said. 'If we build under way too much, we're going to be having this conversation right away again.' Smith said he believes the Department of Corrections needs more space and staff to help incorporate more rehabilitation, treatment options and vocation with inmates. 'Then it's the re-entry too,' Smith said. 'We need to get all those put together to be able to help people be successful in the future.' Karr said in 2024, 63% of the men released from a state prison served less than one year. Karr said DOC is having more success with rehabilitation in Springfield and not Sioux Falls because of a lack of space. 'We're too overcrowded in Sioux Falls,' Karr said. Smith said lawmakers should consider what policies and investments the state could make to keep people out of prison. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Former Police Chief, Who Was Convicted of Rape and Murder, Found After 2 Weeks on the Run Following Prison Escape
Grant Hardin, the former police chief who was convicted of rape and murder, has been found after he escaped prison last month and was on the run for two weeks Hardin, also known as the 'Devil in the Ozarks,' was located 1.5 miles away from the prison he had been held at since his 2017 conviction The criminal was wearing 'a makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement" during his escape, police saidA former police chief, who was convicted of rape and murder, has been found after he escaped prison and was on the run for two weeks. Grant Hardin, also known as the 'Devil in the Ozarks,' was captured by authorities 1.5 miles away from the Calico Rock North Central Unit in Arkansas, where he had been held since 2017, on Friday, June 6, the Izard County Sheriff's Office (ICSO) said in a news release shared on Facebook. Hardin's identity was confirmed through fingerprinting, per police. "We sincerely appreciate the continued support of the community for all law enforcement and Department of Corrections personnel involved in this operation," the ICSO said in a statement. According to a statement from the Arkansas Department of Corrections, Hardin was wearing 'a makeshift outfit designed to mimic law enforcement" during his escape. Officials confirmed he was not wearing a DOC uniform and said that all DOC-issued equipment had been accounted for. A prison officer in one of the guard towers opened a secure gate that allowed Hardin to freely exit, the Associated Press reported, citing a court document. Rand Champion, a spokesperson for the state prison system, told the outlet that the lack of verification of Hardin's credentials was a 'lapse" and would be investigated. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Hardin was the former police chief for the city of Gateway, Ark. In 2017, he pleaded guilty to murder after fatally shooting 59-year-old James Appleton, who worked in the city of Gateway's water department, CBS News, 5News and The New York Times reported, citing an affidavit. The legal document states that Hardin murdered Appleton in February 2017 after pulling up to his parked car and shooting him through the window while the victim was on the phone, according to the Times. A motive remains unknown. While serving his 30-year murder sentence, Hardin also pleaded guilty to the 1997 rape of an elementary school teacher in Rogers, Ark., 5 News reported. Hardin was tied to the long-unsolved crime after authorities linked him to DNA taken from the victim's clothes, authorities said, per the outlet. According to authorities, the victim said Hardin pointed a gun at her and raped her after she exited the school restroom, the Times reported. He was sentenced to 50 years for that crime, per the Associated Press. Reacting to Hardin's capture, Secretary of Corrections Lindsay Wallace said, 'I'm incredibly appreciative to all of our dedicated law enforcement agencies that spent countless hours, both day and night, sacrificing their time, utilizing their resources and lending their invaluable expertise to this search." She added, "To every one of our Department staff that assisted in this manhunt over the last 13 days, I give my heartfelt thank you for your immeasurable contributions to bring this search to a peaceful conclusion.' Read the original article on People
