Gov. Larry Rhoden was in Rapid City yesterday to tour the nearly completed Rapid City women’s prison, calling it his administration’s largest public safety investment for the upcoming fiscal year.
The 300-bed facility, set to open July 1 near Rushmore Crossing, includes a mother-baby program modeled after one in Pierre. The warden position has been posted, and hiring will continue through spring. Rhoden’s proposed budget allocates $13.2 million to staff the prison, with plans to hire 133 employees — including security, health care, and programming staff. An additional $2.4 million in one-time funding will support early hiring and training.
Designed to address the high rate of substance-use disorders among incarcerated women, the prison will emphasize treatment and rehabilitation over housing. Corrections Secretary Nick Lamb said the facility will feature a therapeutic community program offering daily substance-abuse treatment, which he noted reduces recidivism and improves mental health.
Rhoden’s budget also seeks $1.1 million for rising offender health care costs and $555,000 for new security cameras at other state facilities.
Rhoden said the project reflects a shift from “warehousing inmates” to investing in rehabilitation and long-term outcomes.
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