— By Allan Saugstad, Minister

Once-in-a Century Opportunity for South Dakota

The governor’s task force for the new men’s prison needs to include the voices of Native Americans in South Dakota. Our state incarcerates a higher percentage of our population than any of the six states surrounding us—and Native Americans are imprisoned far out of proportion to their numbers. If we are serious about rehabilitative services and lowering the rate of recidivism, we need to include Native leaders in this planning process. Having these citizens at the table will allow the Department of Corrections to create a facility and program that will be more successful in preparing all inmates for a healthy and law-abiding life on the outside. The location can be chosen and the architecture can be designed with recovery and healing—along with security—in mind. Lowering the recidivism rate will lower the long-term cost to South Dakota taxpayers.

This once-in-a-century project is a rare opportunity for South Dakota to do better–let’s not blow it.