Gov. Rhoden Breaks Ground on New Men's Prison

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 22, 2026

Contact: Josie Harms

Gov. Rhoden Breaks Ground on New Men's Prison

PIERRE, S.D. - Today, Governor Larry Rhoden broke ground on the largest single investment in public safety in state history: the new men's prison in Sioux Falls. You can find photos of the groundbreaking here and here.

"This prison is a representation of results to keep South Dakota safe, and I am proud of the work we have done to get here," said Governor Larry Rhoden. "We worked diligently with legislators to build agreement. And now we start building the largest single public safety investment in the history of our state."

Governor Rhoden signed SB 2, which provides for this new prison, last September. On that day, the Governor also established the Correctional Rehabilitation Task Force to ensure renewed focus on corrections reform. The task force has already recommended several rehabilitation improvements, including the Prison Seminary Model and some tribal-focused initiatives. They convene for their third full meeting today.

"For South Dakota to truly be strong, safe, and free, we need continued focus on reforming our corrections system," said Governor Larry Rhoden. We'll be more than ready to provide strong rehabilitation programming in the new men's prison when it opens."

The Rhoden Administration has also invested in rehabilitation by ensuring ongoing funding for 96 additional spots of intensive drug treatment at the new women's prison and funding for new programming such as the new diesel heavy equipment certificate in partnership with Southeast Technical College. This new technical college program will start in the existing prison and move to the new facility.

At the groundbreaking, Governor Rhoden was joined by Lt. Governor Tony Venhuizen, Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken, and Department of Corrections Secretary Nick Lamb, as well as representation from both JE Dunn Construction Group and Henry Carlson Construction, LLC.

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