‘Duct tape' solution: TenHaken, Jamison question new prison near penitentiary

The two toured state-owned land near the existing facility in Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken (right) speaks with state representative and Project Prison Reset Task Force member Greg Jamison on June 19 north of the Sioux Falls Penitentiary. Jonathan Ellis / The Dakota Scout

On a sunny morning near the Big Sioux River on Thursday, Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken threw some shade on the idea of building a new men’s prison near the existing South Dakota State Penitentiary.

TenHaken was joined by Rep. Greg Jamison, a member of Gov. Larry Rhoden’s Project Prison Reset Task Force. That group has winnowed down a list of four potential sites for a new men’s prison – including about 27 acres of land owned by the state across the Big Sioux River Diversion Channel.

Jamison, who represents a southern Sioux Falls district, also expressed skepticism about the site. While some have characterized the building as an expansion, both he and TenHaken noted that it is separated from the main prison, whose razor wire fences and walls are visible about a half-mile away, including across the channel. Some have likened expanding there to a homeowner adding a garage, Jamison said.

“It clearly isn’t,” he said. “It’s completely separate.”

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