The new women’s prison in Rapid City is about a month away from completion and officials are ramping up hiring ahead of its opening later this year.
The Rapid City Correctional Facility, which broke ground in October 2023, will house up to 300 medium- and minimum-custody inmates. Authorities expect the first inmates to arrive by the end of the summer.
The Department of Corrections has begun recruiting staff, aiming to fill about 130 positions. Officials say roughly 40% of those jobs have already been filled within weeks of opening applications.
Secretary of Corrections Nick Lamb said hiring the right staff will be critical, as the facility will operate as a therapeutic community focused on rehabilitation.
The prison will offer structured programs targeting substance abuse and behavioral health, including federal SAMHSA-supported efforts and peer accountability models. Officials say similar programs in other states have led to lower recidivism rates.
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