A bill is advancing which would rename the state Department of Corrections.
With prison talks in full swing, advocates say the state of rehab and recidivism for inmates can’t be ignored in the process.
Brought by Sioux Falls Democratic assistant minority leader Sen. Jamie Smith, it would add the small tag of “and rehabilitation” to the end of the title if passed.
Smith said it’s part of a new Democratic push for meaningful reform in the state’s legal system.
“That’s an investment, right, then you need to have the money to be able to do that, but we’re reactionary because we have a budget shortfall," Smith said. "It all gets tied up in what can we do because of our limited resources. Finding those ways we can provide that treatment to those individuals.”
South Dakota’s rate of incarceration stands at 812 per 100,000 people per the Prison Policy Institute. For contrast, the same organization cites North Dakota at 560 per 100,000.
The bill was advanced from committee unanimously. Republican Sen. Carl Perry, assistant majority leader, said rehabilitation is key to cut repeat offenses.
"The better we do with rehabilitation, the better we do with teaching skills and getting people prepared to go back into the public, the better off we’re all going to be because recidivism is one of the biggest problems we have," Perry said. "If we build a mousetrap, but it’s not a better mousetrap, we’re not doing the right thing.”
This all comes as lawmakers are in deep negotiations regarding the building of a new, state-of-the-art prison.