Rhoden's office releases full $650M prison plan ahead of special session

$175 million in savings achieved by reworking previous $825 million project

A proposed $650 million prison in Sioux Falls accomplishes $175 million in savings by reducing inmate dayroom space from 70 square feet per inmate to 40 square feet, as well as other changes, the governor’s office announced Monday.

Gov. Larry Rhoden’s office released the full plan that a summer task force agreed to that reduces the prison price tag from $825 million to $650 million. The plan also moved the new men’s prison from rural Lincoln County south of Harrisburg to a site near Benson Road and Interstate 229.

The governor’s office released the plan two weeks before lawmakers are scheduled to convene for a special session to consider the prison plan.