SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – In an ambitious effort to reinvent incarceration and reduce recidivism, Nick Lamb, South Dakota’s Corrections Secretary, is seeking to transform the state’s approach to rehabilitation. Lamb, only six months into his tenure, revealed his action plan to the Correctional Rehabilitation Task Force during a meeting in Sioux Falls. With the state’s recidivism rate lingering at 50%, based on individuals released in 2021, Lamb is determined to return to the low of 39% achieved in 2014.
“We’ll get back there,” Lamb affirmed, outlining comprehensive strategies focused on work release programs, residential housing for inmates, and a restructuring of the Department of Corrections. A major component of Lamb’s plan is a proposed residential corrections program, drawn from Iowa’s successful model, offering housing outside traditional prison environments to facilitate community reintegration.
The concept is to provide inmates with the tools necessary to lead successful lives post-release. “Our population is too high for our state,” Lamb noted. “We need to get our population down, but we’ve got to give the offenders the tools they need that they haven’t always had.”
Nick Lamb
Challenges in Housing for Former Offenders
Sioux Falls Mayor, Paul TenHaken, emphasized the dire need for “felon-friendly” housing to curb recidivism. St. Francis House, a nonprofit in Sioux Falls, offers former inmates temporary residential solutions with lenient rent terms. TenHaken sees a partnership with state programs as essential, suggesting government backing for initiatives like St. Francis House could yield significant benefits.
Despite Lamb’s progressive outlook, budgetary constraints pose challenges. State Rep. John Hughes, R-Sioux Falls, expressed concern over funding. “My concern is that we put all these elaborate proposals together, then when we get to appropriations, we’re going to hit the wall,” Hughes said.
Integrating Inmates Back into the Workforce
Under Lamb’s administration, the strategy of integrating inmates back into the workforce has been pivotal. By reducing inmate wages below minimum wage, Lamb aims to encourage collaboration with communities, fostering more contractual work arrangements. Reintroducing work release programs could acclimate inmates to everyday work life, thus facilitating smoother transitions post-incarceration.
“We lowered the wage, which upset some people, but we need them out working,” Lamb reiterated. This approach is reflected in scheduled work engagements at state events like the State Fairgrounds in Huron and Riverboat Days in Yankton.
Addressing Education and Rehabilitation Gaps
The Council for State Governments Justice Center has been pivotal, providing insights and recommendations. Their analysis highlighted stark gaps in rehabilitative programming, where 46% of inmates released in 2025 did not receive any such programming. Increasing this figure is crucial for reducing re-offense rates, as evidenced by a jump from 27% to 44% in rehabilitative engagement between 2023 and 2025.
Among the Justice Center’s recommendations is the creation of a centralized waitlist for rehabilitative programs. Additionally, ensuring continuous programming throughout an inmate’s sentence, as opposed to condensed sessions before release, could be more beneficial.
Lamb’s approach encompasses these insights, aiming to create a rehabilitation and reentry division and streamline program offerings within the Department of Corrections. However, these initiatives necessitate hiring adequate staff, which is an ongoing challenge.
In summation, the vision for South Dakota’s corrections system is clear: a shift towards rehabilitative over punitive measures. This transformation, advocated by Lamb, aims to reduce inmate recidivism through strategic housing, work integration, and comprehensive programming, while aligning with community interests and economic realities.
As the Correctional Rehabilitation Task Force prepares its recommendations for the upcoming legislative session, Lamb remains hopeful that these changes will not only alleviate pressure on the state’s correctional facilities but also contribute to the overall well-being and safety of the South Dakota community.
Looking to the Future
The task force will continue to refine its strategies, ensuring changes align with the state’s financial and social objectives. These efforts, supported by public and government involvement, are crucial in creating a sustainable, forward-thinking correctional system.
“If the state ever chooses to invest in St. Francis House programming, it’s money well spent,” Mayor TenHaken concluded, underscoring the community benefit seen in robust post-incarceration support systems.