Jul. 4—MITCHELL — As the South Dakota officials consider a new Level 5 prison facility near Mitchell, many residents are voicing concerns about safety — particularly the fear that it will bring a wave of former inmates onto the city’s streets.
But what exactly is a Level 5 facility, and what really happens when people are released from prison?
“A Level 5 facility is not a maximum-security prison,” said Kellie Wasko, South Dakota Secretary of Corrections. “It’s a modern, high-capacity facility designed to house all custody levels — from the most secure to the least.”
That distinction is critical, according to Wasko. The designation simply means the facility can safely house people at any custody level, whether Close, Medium, Minimum Restricted, or Minimum. It does not mean that the entire population will be high-risk or violent offenders.
According to Michael Winder, Public Information Officer for the Department of Corrections (DOC), inmate classification begins the moment someone enters prison.
“We conduct a series of assessments on their history, behavior, program participation, escape risk, and more,” Winder said. “Then we place them at the least restrictive custody level necessary to safely house them.”
That level determines housing, supervision, and program eligibility — and it can change. Inmates can work their way to lower custody levels through good behavior and engagement with programming.
Two facilities in South Dakota — the Jameson Prison Annex in Sioux Falls and the South Dakota Women’s Prison — meet Level 5 standards. The proposed facility would be the third.
Unlike older prisons built for lockdown, the new facility is being designed with modern corrections strategies in mind: more out-of-cell time, an on-site clinic to limit hospital transfers, and space for education, vocational training and behavioral health treatment.
“This isn’t a warehouse for people,” Wasko said. “It’s a place for rehabilitation and preparation for successful re-entry.”
Some Mitchell residents fear that former inmates will settle in town post-release. But according to DOC data and those who have been through the system, that assumption doesn’t always align with reality.
“Offenders do not simply walk out the door and into the nearest community,” Wasko emphasized. “They leave under structured plans, on parole or with supervision, to a pre-approved destination.”
In fact, according to DOC policy and state law, people are released to the community where they were sentenced, or to another location of their choice if they have stronger support there. Transportation is arranged by the DOC — not left to chance.
Tony Longoria, who was released in June 2024 after an 18-month pre-release program, said the re-entry process is tightly controlled.
“Most people don’t get out unless they have a verified place to go,” Longoria said. “They’re not just dumped in some random city.”
Beau Mackey knows firsthand the control the DOC has over parole plans. During his first parole release, he was denied the opportunity to return to Mitchell and instead had to accept placement in Yankton. He explained that the Department of Corrections and parole officers have the authority to reject parole plans if they’re not considered a good fit, especially for offenders with violent backgrounds.
Longoria planned his release by coordinating with a treatment center in advance. After graduating from treatment, he lives in Mitchell, has a job, a car, and helps others transitioning out of prison.
Winder says most inmates are released under parole supervision. They are assigned a parole officer, must follow strict conditions (like drug testing, employment, and regular check-ins), and risk returning to prison for violations.
Those leaving within 12 months begin working with reentry coaches. They take programs like Thinking for Change (T4C), which helps reframe impulsive behavior and decision-making. In 2024, over 200 men and women completed this course.
Inmates often transition through halfway houses or community work centers. Sioux Falls’ St. Francis House and Rapid City’s Cornerstone Rescue Mission are common destinations. Mitchell already hosts a federal halfway house, meaning parolees are already arriving there today — regardless of whether a new prison is built nearby.
“It’s not like in the movies,” said Brandon Tyon, who was released in 2023. “You don’t just walk out the gate. There’s a bus, a plan, a place to go.”
Tyon, however, is skeptical about the system’s ability to rehabilitate.
“There’s no real hope. It’s just struggle after struggle,” he said.
This doubt isn’t uncommon — especially given that as of 2023, 43% of adult offenders in South Dakota return to prison within three years of release, according to the state Department of Corrections.
Shawn Mousseau points to a broader challenge: many offenders cycling through prison are repeat drug offenders, often caught in a revolving door. Because these individuals typically serve shorter sentences, they rarely stay long enough to fully benefit from available rehabilitation programs.
Mousseau spent 10 years in prison and participated in programs like the Alternative to Violence Project, which he credits with helping him turn his life around.
“But you have to want it,” he said. “If you’re not ready, you won’t do the work — even if it’s available.”
Reentry remains a complex and often inconsistent process. Longoria described how changes to the work release program — including raising inmate pay to minimum wage — led businesses to pull back, reducing the number of inmates in the program from 1,000 to 200.
“That left hundreds stuck inside with nowhere to go,” Longoria said. “If you can’t work, you can’t save for release, pay fines, or get a parole plan approved.”
Mackey, who is on parole through 2035, says fears that parolees are dangerous or reckless are often overblown.
“Most of us want to stay out,” he said. “We’ve done our time and learned our lessons.”
Mackey stressed that parole involves mandatory supervision, accountability and clear rules. He described parole officers as vital support figures who assist with employment, sobriety and staying on track after release.
He understands public fears but believes they stem from misunderstanding.
“People think we’re all ticking time bombs,” he said. “But most of us just want to rebuild.”
DOC officials agree. According to Wasko, about 95% of incarcerated individuals will eventually return to society. The key is preparation — not panic.
“The goal is not just to release people,” she said. “It’s to reintegrate them — safely and successfully.”
No matter what is ultimately decided about the prison and Mitchell, Mackey hopes that open discussion about successful reintegration can help shift public perception.
“Showing more successful offenders in the community will lead to more stable outcomes and help ease fear and encourage acceptance from the public,” he said.