SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — South Dakota officials have officially broken ground on a sprawling new men’s prison in Sioux Falls.
Governor Larry Rhoden, joined by Lt. Governor Tony Venhuizen, Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken, and Department of Corrections Secretary Nick Lamb, marked the start of construction Wednesday, April 23, on the long‑planned facility. The project is budgeted at up to $650 million and will replace the aging South Dakota State Penitentiary, parts of which date back more than a century; state leaders have described the undertaking as the largest single investment in public safety in South Dakota history.
“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,” Rhoden said at the ceremony. He credited months of negotiations with lawmakers that culminated in SB 2, the bill authorizing the new prison, which he signed last September.
A Modern Facility Designed for Rehabilitation
The new complex will sit on 148 acres in northeast Sioux Falls, a site the state purchased for $12.5 million. Plans call for 1,500 beds, including both traditional cell housing and dorm‑style units, along with expanded space for education, treatment, and vocational training.
State officials say the design reflects a shift toward rehabilitation‑focused corrections. The facility will include significantly more room for job‑training programs, faith‑based initiatives, and reentry preparation than the current penitentiary allows.
Rhoden highlighted ongoing investments in treatment and education, including 96 new intensive drug‑treatment slots at the women’s prison and a diesel heavy‑equipment certificate program developed with Southeast Technical College. That program will begin at the existing men’s prison and transition to the new site once it opens.
Task Force Driving Reform
Alongside the construction effort, the administration created the Correctional Rehabilitation Task Force, which met again Wednesday. The group has already recommended several initiatives, including a Prison Seminary Model and new tribal‑focused programming aimed at reducing recidivism.
“For South Dakota to truly be strong, safe, and free, we need continued focus on reforming our corrections system,” Rhoden said. “We’ll be more than ready to provide strong rehabilitation programming in the new men’s prison when it opens.”
Years in the Making
The groundbreaking follows years of debate over how to replace the state’s deteriorating penitentiary. Earlier proposals — including a more expensive plan in Lincoln County — stalled amid community opposition and legislative concerns. The Sioux Falls site ultimately won support after lawmakers and local officials agreed on the need for a modernized, long‑term solution.
Construction is being led by JE Dunn Construction Group and Henry Carlson Construction, LLC, both of which had representatives at the ceremony.
State officials have not yet announced a projected opening date, but the facility is expected to take several years to complete; 2030 has been stated as one targeted completion date.
