South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden on Thursday announced immediate changes to tighten parole supervision, aimed at holding repeat offenders accountable and removing violators from communities more quickly.
The action follows several high‑profile crimes involving parolees, including the shooting of a Sioux Falls police officer. Rhoden said public safety is the government’s top responsibility and credited law enforcement leaders for helping strengthen the parole system.
The changes focus on faster parole revocations, closer monitoring of high‑risk offenders, and stricter penalties for serious violations. The Department of Corrections will create a new compliance unit of five specialized parole agents to supervise the highest‑risk cases, including nights and weekends, and is hiring five additional parole officers to reduce caseloads.
Penalties will increase for violations that pose greater public safety risks, such as DUI, assault, and weapons offenses, rather than treating all misdemeanors equally. Corrections officials said parole revocations have already nearly doubled in the first week of stepped‑up enforcement.
Rhoden is also calling on the Board of Pardons and Parole to speed up revocation hearings and consider tougher sanctions, including longer returns to prison. Corrections Secretary Nick Lamb said the effort requires coordination across agencies but will improve public safety statewide.
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