SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A group of inmates from the South Dakota Department of Corrections system is helping with the storm clean-up in Hudson.
KELOLAND chief photographer Kevin Kjergaard was told about 20 inmates were in the town that was heavily damaged in a Monday storm. Michael Winder of DOC communications said DOC offered minimum-security offenders from the Yankton Minimum Center.
“Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Swenson accepted the assistance in cooperation with the mayor and county emergency manager. The offenders are helping pick up storm debris such as downed trees and tree limbs,” Winder said in an email to KELOLAND News.
Additional information will be provided on the clean-up work later today, Winder said. But, he said, the DOC would not release information on any security or operational measures for the Hudson work.
The state has a history since at least the late 1990s of sending inmates to help with disaster clean-up.
DOC also offered disaster assistance last year for flooding in the southeast, spring flooding in the northeast in 2023, and the derecho in 2022, Winder said in the email. Those were under then Gov. Kristi Noem.
Former Gov. Bill Janklow sent inmates to help with storm, flood clean-up efforts and fires at least 40 times while he was in office. On Aug. 9, 2002, Janklow sent 156 inmates to help clean up debris from flash flooding in Deadwood. Of those 156 inmates, 106 were from the Custer Trusty Unit and 50 were from the Yankton Trusty Unit, the state said in 2002.
That was the ninth time Janklow deployed inmates in 2002. In eight years as of Aug. 9, 2002, inmates were used in 24 disaster responses. They had worked more than 72,000 hours in that service.
Inmate crews also worked on 21 wildfires and forest fires for 17,000 hours in 2002, as of Aug. 9, 2002.
Gov. Mike Rounds used inmates in response as well. In August of 2007, at least 40 inmates and five DOC staff were sent to Hermosa to help with flooding clean-up. Thirteen minimum security inmates from Rapid City helped with the flooding response at Spearfish Creek, according to the state.
Fourteen inmates and three staff from Unit C, the minimum custody unit in Sioux Falls, were deployed on May 23, 2010 to the Bowdle area to help with clean up after a tornado.
Former Gov. Dennis Daugaard also deployed inmates for disaster response.
On June 17, 2014, 50 inmates from minimum security Unit C in Sioux Falls and 50 inmates from the Yankton minimum unit were deployed to help with flood clean-up in Union County, according to a state news release.
Media reports from June of 2014 also said Daugaard sent inmates for flooding help near McCook Lake, Wessington Springs and Canton.
