House Passes Prison Funding Legislation (audio)

Air Date:03/10/2010

By Eryn Clement

A bill that creates an appropriation for the renovation of a minimum security prison in Rapid City has passed the State House. Lawmakers approved spending nearly four million dollars in state and federal funds for the prison. The money is for renovation of a building on land the Corrections Department purchased a year ago. The facility will house up to 400 inmates. Representative Larry Tidemann says the new prison puts inmates closer to their families and helps them find work-release jobs to prepare for their eventual release.

“The funding mechanism that we have will allow us to go forward and make the repairs the renovation and do a better job of helping move the minimum security prisoners out into the population and help them reestablish themselves with their family and their community,” says Tidemann.

The House passed Senate bill 53 with a 66 to 3 vote. The measure now goes to the governor.

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