Sen. John Thune (R-South Dakota), center, toured the Sisseton-Wahpeton detention center in South Dakota in May 2015 with then-chairman Bruce Renville, right, and Chief of Police Gary Gaikowski. Photo from Facebook
Two South Dakota lawmakers are hoping to secure funding to replace crumbling detention facilities in Indian Country. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) and Sen. John Thune (R-South Dakota) are seeking $25 million in a bill that funds the Department of Justice. The money would be used to build new facilities and would create a priority for large tribes that are ready to move quickly on projects. “Many detention facilities on tribal land in South Dakota are dilapidated and unfit to hold detainees,” Rounds said in a press release. “Sisseton-Wahpeton’s detention center, for example, was condemned by the Department of Interior 15 years ago and still has not been replaced." The Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, which has more than 13,000 members, would qualify for priority under the language. The tribe already has plans for a justice center that would house adult and juvenile inmates and would include space for the police department, the tribal court, child support, probation, prosecutors and public defenders. “This bill is desperately needed and will provide the tools and resources to help us obtain funding to fix our facility needs and help us combat the serious and urgent law enforcement problems plaguing our people on the Lake Traverse Reservation," Chairman Dave Flute said. The existing facility was built in 1975 and only has space for 22 adults. The amendment is being offered to H.R.2578, the fiscal year 2017 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies appropriations bill. There is no guarantee it will make it into the package, which is currently being debated on the Senate floor.
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