South Dakota State Prisons

The following is a detailed summary of the South Dakota State Prison System:

Overview

The South Dakota Department of Corrections (SDDOC) manages the state prison system in South Dakota. As of 2021, South Dakota had an incarceration rate of 427 prisoners per 100,000 residents, which is lower than the national average.[1] The system consists of five adult facilities, including minimum, medium, and maximum security prisons.[2]

Locating a Prisoner

To locate an inmate in the South Dakota prison system, you can use the SDDOC’s online Offender Locator tool. It allows you to search by name, DOC number, or other identifying information.[3]

Visitation Rules

Visitation rules vary by facility, but generally, inmates are allowed visits from immediate family members and approved friends during designated visiting hours.

Visitors must be approved in advance and follow rules regarding dress code, behavior, and items allowed.[4]

Security Levels:

South Dakota prisons are classified into three security levels:

Maximum Security: Housing the most dangerous offenders
Medium Security: Housing inmates with moderate risk levels
Minimum Security: Housing low-risk offenders nearing release [5]

Parole

The South Dakota Board of Pardons and Paroles considers factors such as the nature of the offense, prior criminal history, institutional behavior, and victim input when making parole decisions. Inmates must serve a certain percentage of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole, depending on their offense.[6]

Educational and Vocational Programs

SDDOC offers various educational and vocational programs to help inmates develop skills and reduce recidivism. These include adult basic education, GED preparation, vocational training in areas like welding and carpentry, and college courses through partnerships with local colleges.

SDDOC Rehabilitative Programs

The South Dakota Department of Corrections (SDDOC) offers several rehabilitative programs to help inmates develop skills, address substance abuse and mental health issues, and reduce the likelihood of recidivism.

Rehabilitative programs include:

• Substance Abuse Treatment: SDDOC provides substance abuse treatment programs, such as the Intensive Methamphetamine Treatment (IMT) program, which is a 9-12 month program for inmates with a history of methamphetamine abuse. The program includes individual and group therapy, cognitive-behavioral interventions, and aftercare planning.
• Mental Health Services: SDDOC offers mental health services, including individual and group therapy, for inmates with mental health needs. The department also has a Special Needs Unit for inmates with serious mental illnesses.
• Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT): MRT is a cognitive-behavioral program that helps inmates develop moral reasoning, decision-making, and problem-solving skills. By addressing criminal thinking and behavior, the program aims to reduce recidivism.
• Vocational Training: SDDOC’s Vocational Education Program provides vocational training in areas such as welding, carpentry, and automotive repair. These programs help inmates develop job skills and increase their employability upon release.
• Education Programs: Through partnerships with local colleges and universities, inmates can access adult basic education, GED preparation, and college courses. SDDOC also offers the Braille Program, which trains inmates to transcribe documents into Braille for visually impaired individuals.
• Religious and Cultural Programs: SDDOC offers religious services, sweat lodge ceremonies for Native American inmates and other cultural programs to support inmates’ spiritual and cultural needs.
• Parenting Classes: The department offers parenting classes to help inmates develop positive parenting skills and maintain relationships with their children during incarceration.

Pros and Cons of the South Dakota Prison System

PROS

• Lower incarceration rate compared to the national average
• Offers rehabilitative programs to reduce recidivism
• Provides educational and vocational opportunities for inmates

CONS

• Limited funding for rehabilitative programs
• Challenges with reentry and recidivism rates
• Overcrowding in some facilities

South Dakota Prison News

South Dakota’s Most Infamous Prison Break:

Web Sources and References:

[1] https://www.sentencingproject.org/the-facts/#rankings?dataset-option=SIR
[2] https://doc.sd.gov/adult/facilities/
[3] https://doc.sd.gov/adult/lookup/
[4] https://doc.sd.gov/about/faq/visitation.aspx
[5] https://doc.sd.gov/adult/facilities/security.aspx
[6] https://doc.sd.gov/parole/
[7] https://doc.sd.gov/adult/programs/

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE PRISONS:

Wateree River Correctional Institution

Wateree River Correctional Institution
Highway 261
Rembert, SC 29128

Telephone:

(803)-432-6191
(803)-896-3400

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Wateree River Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 189
Rembert, SC 29128-0189

Aurora Plains Academy

Aurora Plains Academy
1400 East 10th Street
Plankinton, SD 57368-2033

Telephone: (605)-942-5437

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Aurora Plains Academy
1400 East 10th Street
Plankinton, SD 57368-2033

Jameson Annex

Jameson Annex
1600 North Drive
Sioux Falls, SD 57117

Telephone: (605)-367-5120

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Jameson Annex
P.O. Box 5911
Sioux Falls, SD 57117

Mike Durfee State Prison

Mike Durfee State Prison
1412 Wood Street
Springfield, SD 57062

Telephone: (605)-369-2201

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
Mike Durfee State Prison
1412 Wood Street
Springfield, SD 57062

Patrick Henry Brady Academy

Patrick Henry Brady Academy
12279 Brady Drive
Custer, SD 57730

Telephone: (605)-673-2521

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Patrick Henry Brady Academy
12279 Brady Drive
Custer, SD 57730

QUEST

QUEST
25298 Badger Clark Road
Custer, SD 57730

Telephone: (605)-255-4835

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​QUEST
25298 Badger Clark Road
Custer, SD 57730

Rapid City Minimum Unit

Rapid City Minimum Unit
2725 Creek Drive
Rapid City, SD 57703

Telephone: (605)-394-5294

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
Rapid City Minimum Unit
2725 Creek Drive
Rapid City, SD 57703

South Dakota State Penitentiary

South Dakota State Penitentiary
1600 North Drive
Sioux Falls, SD 57117

Telephone: (605)-367-5051

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​South Dakota State Penitentiary
P.O. Box 5911
Sioux Falls, SD 57117

South Dakota Women’s Prison

South Dakota Women’s Prison
3200 East Highway 34
Pierre, SD 57501

Telephone: (605)-773-6636

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
South Dakota Women’s Prison
c/o 500 E. Capital Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501

STAR Academy

STAR Academy
12279 Brady Drive
Custer, SD 57730

Telephone: (605)-673-2521

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​STAR Academy
12279 Brady Drive
Custer, SD 57730

Yankton Minimum Unit

Yankton Minimum Unit
178 Mickelson Drive
Yankton, SD 57078

Telephone: (605)-668-3355

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Yankton Minimum Unit
178 Mickelson Drive
Yankton, SD 57078

Youth Challenge Center

Youth Challenge Center
12279 Brady Drive
Custer, SD 57730

Telephone: (605)-673-2521

Inmate Mailing Address:

Inmate Name, ID Number
​Youth Challenge Center
12279 Brady Drive
Custer, SD 57730

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