Governor Signs Prison Legislation (audio)

Air Date:03/17/2010

By Eryn Clement

Governor Mike Rounds signed a measure which allows nearly four million dollars in state and federal funds to be spent towards a minimum security prison in Rapid City. The funding renovates a building on a site the Corrections Department purchased a year ago. The facility houses up to 400 prisoners. Larry Tidemann is a proponent of Senate bill 53. He says the minimum security prison helps the prisoners prepare for their eventual release.

“The funding mechanism that we have will allow us to 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.

Lawmakers are currently in recess and will reconvene in two weeks to finalize the budget and consider any vetoes issued by Governor Rounds.

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