South Dakota's Department of Corrections (SD DOC), headed by Secretary Kellie Wasko, manages a state prison system under documented strain. In 2025, South Dakota reported eight lethal overdose deaths in state prisons -- more than any neighboring state. Violence has flared at both the South Dakota State Penitentiary (SDSP) in Sioux Falls and at Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield. Overcrowding at both facilities has been acknowledged by state leadership and is driving a controversial new prison construction project in Lincoln County.
Into this context, SD DOC provides mental health care through its own behavioral health staff -- behavioral health services including mental health treatment, substance abuse programming, and discharge planning are part of SD DOC's stated programming mission. For prisoners who require inpatient psychiatric hospital care, the Human Services Center (HSC) in Yankton is South Dakota's primary state psychiatric hospital.
South Dakota does not have active federal court oversight specifically of SD DOC prison mental health care.
What South Dakota Prisoners Are Entitled To
Under Estelle v. Gamble (1976) and SD DOC policies:
- Mental health screening at intake.
- Mental health care throughout incarceration based on assessed needs.
- Access to the Human Services Center in Yankton for inpatient psychiatric hospitalization when clinical criteria are met.
- Substance abuse treatment programming.
- Discharge planning for mental health continuity upon release.
Mental Health Screening at Intake
SD DOC conducts health screening for all incoming prisoners at intake, including behavioral health assessment. The screening identifies mental health history, current diagnoses, and active psychiatric medications.
If your person has a psychiatric history, provide documentation at intake -- prior hospitalizations, diagnoses, and active medications -- to support accurate initial assessment.
SD DOC Behavioral Health Services
SD DOC provides behavioral health services across its state prison system as part of its rehabilitation and programming mission. Services include:
- Mental health assessments and evaluations.
- Individual and group mental health counseling.
- Psychiatric medication management.
- Substance abuse treatment programming.
- Crisis intervention and suicide prevention.
- Pre-release discharge planning connecting prisoners with community mental health resources.
SD DOC's programming mission emphasizes rehabilitation and preparation for community reintegration, which includes behavioral health components.
South Dakota's Prison Facilities
SD DOC operates several adult correctional facilities:
South Dakota State Penitentiary (SDSP, Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County): The state's maximum-security prison, a Level IV facility. Houses maximum and higher-custody prisoners. The SDSP has experienced violence and is described by the Governor as severely deteriorated. A new prison in Lincoln County is planned in part to replace the SDSP.
Mike Durfee State Prison (Springfield, Bon Homme County): A Level III medium-security men's facility located on the campus of the former University of South Dakota at Springfield. Capacity approximately 1,200-1,236. The dormitory-style buildings on the former college campus create documented security challenges. Mike Durfee experienced two days of wide-scale fighting in July 2024, resulting in several injuries.
Herm Solem Public Safety Center (Pierre, Hughes County): Women's facility. Houses female prisoners.
Minimum Security Centers: Yankton and Rapid City.
New Lincoln County Prison: A new men's prison is under development in Lincoln County, south of Sioux Falls. The project is controversial -- some corrections experts have called for a pause and a comprehensive review of the entire prison system's configuration before committing to the Lincoln County site.
The 2025 Prison Death Crisis
In 2025, South Dakota reported eight lethal overdose deaths in state prisons -- more than any of its neighboring states (Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota) in the same period. This rate of drug-related deaths in a relatively small prison system (approximately 3,800 prisoners total) signals significant challenges in both substance use disorder treatment delivery and contraband prevention.
This crisis is directly relevant to mental health because substance use disorders and co-occurring mental illness are closely linked. People who die of overdose in prison frequently have untreated co-occurring mental illness and addiction. The eight deaths have generated protests, family advocacy, and scrutiny of SD DOC's programming and substance abuse treatment capacity.
Violence and Overcrowding
Overcrowding at both the SDSP and Mike Durfee State Prison has been acknowledged by South Dakota's governor and Corrections Secretary. The documented violence -- multiple incidents in 2024 and 2025 -- affects the prison environment in ways that are particularly harmful to prisoners with serious mental illness. A high-violence, overcrowded environment is actively counterproductive to mental health treatment.
Governor Rhoden has said he "saw for himself" the deteriorating conditions at the SDSP and has confidence in Secretary Wasko to manage the situation, while acknowledging it is a situation inherited under difficult circumstances.
The Human Services Center (HSC)
South Dakota's primary state psychiatric hospital is the Human Services Center (HSC) in Yankton. The HSC is operated by the Department of Social Services (DSS), Division of Behavioral Health. Key facts:
Location: 3515 Broadway Avenue (or PO Box 7600), Yankton, South Dakota 57078-7600.
Phone: 605-668-3100 (Communications Desk); 605-668-3138/3139 (Admissions).
Mission: To provide individuals who are mentally ill or chemically dependent with effective, individualized professional treatment enabling them to achieve their highest level of personal independence in the most therapeutic environment.
The HSC is located on Highway 81, approximately one-half mile north of the Highway 50 and Highway 81 intersection on the north edge of Yankton. It is a historic facility (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) that has served as South Dakota's primary psychiatric hospital since 1882.
For SD DOC prisoners who require inpatient hospital-level psychiatric care beyond what prison facilities can provide, the HSC in Yankton is the primary referral destination.
South Dakota Division of Behavioral Health
The Division of Behavioral Health (within the Department of Social Services, DSS) is South Dakota's community behavioral health agency. The Division:
- Oversees the Human Services Center.
- Ensures that children and adults with mental health disorders and chemical dependency in South Dakota communities have access to effective services.
- Manages South Dakota's network of regional behavioral health providers and community mental health centers.
- Division Director: Melanie Boetel; 605-367-5236.
- General community contact: 605-773-5990.
Upon release from SD DOC, prisoners with mental health needs connect with the DSS Division of Behavioral Health's network of community providers. Regional behavioral health services -- including community mental health centers (CMHCs) and crisis intervention services -- provide the community-side landing point.
Community Crisis Services
South Dakota has developed regional crisis care resources in recent years, including the CORE (Crisis, Outreach, Response, Engagement) Center operated by Lewis and Clark Behavioral Health Services (LCBHS) in the Yankton area. Regional crisis services provide an alternative to emergency department and jail-based mental health responses in rural South Dakota.
For people being released from SD DOC prisons with mental health needs, connecting to the regional crisis and outreach resources in the release area is an important step.
What Families Can Do
If your person is in SD DOC custody and has a mental illness:
Provide psychiatric history at intake. Supply documentation of prior hospitalizations, diagnoses, and active medications to support accurate initial behavioral health assessment.
Document the current crisis context. In 2025, eight people died of drug overdoses in SD DOC prisons. If your person has a substance use disorder or co-occurring SUD and mental illness, the current crisis represents an elevated risk. Document any missed treatment appointments, medication interruptions, or denied access to behavioral health services.
Ask about mental health services at their specific facility. SD DOC provides mental health and behavioral health services, but the availability and quality of services can vary by facility. Ask specifically what mental health staff are available at the facility where your person is housed.
Ask about the HSC pathway. If your person's psychiatric condition is severe and requires hospital-level inpatient care, ask whether a referral to the Human Services Center in Yankton (605-668-3100) has been considered and what the criteria for that referral are.
Ask about substance abuse treatment. Given the 2025 overdose death crisis, ask what substance abuse treatment programming is available at your person's facility and whether your person is enrolled.
Ask about pre-release discharge planning. Ask what community behavioral health provider has been identified in the area where your person will be released, whether DSS Division of Behavioral Health has been contacted, and whether Medicaid enrollment or reinstatement is underway.
File a grievance. SD DOC has an administrative grievance process. File formal grievances for: failure to conduct mental health screening, denial of mental health services, medication interruption, failure to refer to the HSC when warranted, and failure to initiate discharge planning.
Contact Disability Rights South Dakota. South Dakota Disability Rights (formerly South Dakota Advocacy) at 800-658-4782 is the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy organization for South Dakota and monitors conditions for people with mental illness and disabilities in SD DOC facilities.
Seek legal help. If your person has serious mental illness and is not receiving adequate mental health care, if HSC referral has been denied when warranted, or if the overcrowding and violence environment is creating specific harm to a person with serious mental illness, consult a prisoner rights attorney with experience in South Dakota's federal courts (District of South Dakota).
Frequently asked questions
How does South Dakota screen prisoners for mental illness?
SD DOC conducts health screening for all incoming prisoners at intake, including behavioral health assessment identifying mental health history, diagnoses, and active psychiatric medications. Provide psychiatric documentation at intake -- prior hospitalizations, diagnoses, and active medications. If your person is at a reception facility, make sure their mental health history is documented in writing before they are transferred to their permanent placement.
What mental health services does SD DOC provide?
SD DOC's behavioral health programming includes: mental health assessments and evaluations, individual and group mental health counseling, psychiatric medication management, substance abuse treatment programming, crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and pre-release discharge planning. Services are provided by SD DOC behavioral health staff. For prisoners requiring hospital-level inpatient psychiatric care, the Human Services Center (HSC) in Yankton is the primary referral destination.
What is the Human Services Center in South Dakota?
The Human Services Center (HSC) at 3515 Broadway Avenue, Yankton, SD 57078 (605-668-3100) is South Dakota's primary state psychiatric hospital, operated by the Department of Social Services (DSS) Division of Behavioral Health. It has served this function since 1882. The HSC provides individuals who are mentally ill or chemically dependent with effective, individualized professional treatment. For SD DOC prisoners who need inpatient psychiatric care, the HSC is the primary referral destination.
What are the main South Dakota state prison facilities?
SD DOC operates: South Dakota State Penitentiary (SDSP, Sioux Falls, maximum security, Level IV, deteriorating physical plant); Mike Durfee State Prison (Springfield, medium security, Level III, ~1,200 capacity, former university campus with dormitory-style buildings); Herm Solem Public Safety Center (Pierre, women's facility); and Minimum Security Centers in Yankton and Rapid City. A controversial new men's prison is under development in Lincoln County, driven in part by overcrowding at SDSP.
What is the mental health crisis at SD prisons in 2025?
In 2025, South Dakota reported eight lethal overdose deaths in state prisons -- more than any of its six neighboring states in the same period. This crisis reflects the intersection of overcrowding, violence, and inadequate substance abuse treatment in SD DOC facilities. Eight of these deaths occurred in a prison population of approximately 3,800 people. Overcrowding and violence at the SDSP and Mike Durfee State Prison have been documented through multiple reported incidents in 2024 and 2025.
What is the new South Dakota prison project about?
SD DOC is developing a new men's prison in Lincoln County, south of Sioux Falls, driven by overcrowding at the deteriorating South Dakota State Penitentiary. The project is controversial -- former corrections officials have called for a pause and comprehensive review of the entire prison system configuration. Governor Rhoden has toured the SDSP and expressed "full confidence" in Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko to manage the security challenges while the new facility is developed.
How does SD DOC handle mental health at release?
SD DOC's pre-release discharge planning connects prisoners with community behavioral health resources through the DSS Division of Behavioral Health's network of regional providers. Regional behavioral health centers, community mental health centers, and crisis services (such as LCBHS's CORE Center in the Yankton area) provide community-side landing points. Ask what community provider has been identified for the release area, whether DSS has been contacted, and whether Medicaid reinstatement is underway.
What is South Dakota's Division of Behavioral Health?
The Division of Behavioral Health within the South Dakota Department of Social Services (DSS) oversees community mental health and substance use disorder services for South Dakotans. It operates the Human Services Center (HSC) in Yankton and manages the statewide network of regional behavioral health providers. Director: Melanie Boetel, 605-367-5236. General contact: 605-773-5990. For prisoners being released from SD DOC, the Division's community providers are the primary mental health referral destination.
What can families do if mental health care is denied in SD?
Provide psychiatric documentation at intake. Document the 2025 crisis context -- eight overdose deaths signal systemic treatment gaps. Ask about specific mental health services at your person's facility. Ask about HSC referral for inpatient needs. Ask about substance abuse treatment given the overdose crisis. Ask about discharge planning and community provider connections. File SD DOC grievances for screening failures, service denials, medication interruptions, and HSC referral denials. Contact South Dakota Disability Rights at 800-658-4782 for legal advocacy.
Who oversees mental health care in South Dakota prisons?
SD DOC's Division of Behavioral Health / behavioral health staff manages mental health services across the prison system. The Department of Social Services (DSS) Division of Behavioral Health oversees the Human Services Center and community mental health services. No federal court actively exercises oversight of SD DOC. South Dakota Disability Rights (formerly South Dakota Advocacy, 800-658-4782) is the federally mandated P&A organization monitoring SD DOC conditions. ---