In 2025, the South Dakota Department of Corrections’ parole division reported significant successes despite facing intensified public scrutiny. The department achieved a notable reduction in parole absconders, down to a mere 3%, the lowest in the nation compared to the national average of 10-14%. This accomplishment was underscored by the Parole Services Director, Brad Lewandowski, who credited the concerted efforts of the absconder apprehension unit established three years prior.
Governor Larry Rhoden, responding to a surge in parolee supervision concerns, particularly after a police officer in Sioux Falls was shot by a person on parole, announced a series of reforms. This move is part of his broader Smarter Supervision Initiative. It includes the hiring of five new parole officers dedicated to intensive supervision, enhancing the state’s ability to manage high-risk inmates more effectively.
South Dakota’s Department of Corrections has been tackling the challenge of a 50% recidivism rate. To address this, the state seeks an $890,000 Justice Department grant aimed at improving data collection and providing enhanced training for parole officers. These efforts are part of the corrective measures encouraged by the Correctional Rehabilitation Task Force, convened last year under Governor Rhoden’s leadership, to reform prison re-entry processes and enhance public safety.
Larry Rhoden
The recent initiatives also emphasize the strategic importance of reducing technical parole violations. According to Kayla Stucky, associate director of parole field operations, the state not only met but exceeded its target with a 25% reduction in such violations, far above the initially targeted 3% decrease. This success highlights South Dakota’s commitment to transformative measures in its parole system.
Tackling Drug Use and Public Safety
Governor Rhoden has pledged to take a harder stance on violations related to drug use, DUIs, assaults, and weapons — misconducts that could pose significant dangers to the community. This reinforcement came after calls from local leaders in Sioux Falls and Rapid City for more stringent measures to enhance public safety.
The enhanced compliance unit, comprising five veteran parole officers who volunteered for the task, focuses on high-risk offenders. This specialized team will have a reduced caseload, allowing officers to provide more intensive supervision than ever before.
Lewandowski emphasized the unit’s role in overseeing challenging cases, saying, “We’ll find the toughest cases for them to supervise.” The targeted supervision is set for about four months post-release, covering offenders such as aggravated assaults and high-risk sex offenders. The funding for these positions has been secured within the existing corrections budget through internal resource reallocation.
Impact on Sioux Falls
The effects of the parole modifications have been notably visible in Sioux Falls. The increased supervision requirements have led to a surge in parole holds, exacerbating space issues at the Minnehaha County Jail. The jail, which experiences a high influx of parolees facing new charges, has had to accommodate more inmates temporarily while decisions on parole violations are being made.
The Minnehaha County Jail’s warden, Mike Mattson, acknowledged the increased demand, stating, “The state has been responsive to our requests to transfer people out to other facilities.” Efforts to alleviate these pressures include transferring inmates to nearby Clay and Union counties.
In acknowledgment of the overcrowding, plans for a new $650 million prison facility in Sioux Falls are underway. This initiative aims to replace outdated buildings and better meet the current needs of South Dakota’s largest city, ensuring the state’s incarceration facilities are equipped for future demands.
Contact the South Dakota Department of Corrections for more information on these developments.