Sheriff: More Needed to Cut Minnehaha County Jail Population

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — The Minnehaha County sheriff says officials should rethink who gets held in jails as the county prepares to expand its facility.

The Argus Leader reports a committee endorsed a plan last month that would see the existing 400-bed facility be expanded by 320 beds. But Sheriff Mike Milstead says the planned $42.5 million facility would be full less than three years after breaking ground, citing a jail consultant's forecast.

Milstead says the Minnehaha County can't sustain the increase in inmates "without taking action." He says the county can do more to decrease the jail population.

Minnehaha County has a sobriety program with 600 people being supervised rather staying in jail. It's also piloting a risk assessment tool in juvenile court that helps judges determine whether a defendant needs to be held until their court date.

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