With prison decision looming, state Rep. Greg Jamison calls for community forum

Law enforcement, city leadership to discuss challenges of hosting men's penitentiary

Rep. Greg Jamison, left, and Mayor Paul TenHaken discuss a proposal to build a new men’s prison near the existing South Dakota State Penitentiary. Jamison is hosting a forum on July 22 about a new prison in Sioux Falls.

As it becomes more likely that Sioux Falls will be home to a new men’s prison, one member of a task force studying the issue wants the city to have a voice in how it plays out.

State Rep. Greg Jamison is hosting a community meeting Tuesday at the Washington Pavillion where law enforcement officials can address the impacts of having the prison here. Other communities, Jamison said, have gone through similar conversations, only to turn against the idea of hosting a new 1,200-1,500 bed men’s prison.

This comes after Gov. Larry Rhoden announced a special session on Sept. 23 for the Legislature to consider the idea of building a new prison to replace the South Dakota State Penitentiary. Jamison, a member of the Project Prison Reset Committee that Rhoden formed, was one of about 20 members who voted to support a proposal to build a new prison at $650 million.