South Dakota's prison exploration ongoing as $51M already spent on Lincoln County plan

Task Force to reexamine potential sites

Departments of Corrections Sec. Kellie Wasko presents to the Project Prison Reset Task Force at the Military Heritage Alliance in Sioux Falls on Thursday, April 3, 2025. Hunter Dunteman / Sioux Falls Live

State officials say they intend to reexamine the location of the future men’s prison, as well as look for new ones, despite already spending or obligating nearly $51 million on the Lincoln County site.

The Project Prison Reset Task Force met for the first time in Sioux Falls on Wednesday and Thursday, April 2-3, where board members discussed what will come next for state prison improvements.

According to Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen, who is serving as chair of the task force, the group has three main questions it seeks to answer: What is the viability of the existing prison, what are the needs the Department of Corrections must satisfy with a new prison facility and where is the ideal location.

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