SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Secretary Nick Lamb, the new leader of South Dakota’s Department of Corrections, had his first one-on-one interview with the state’s media on Wednesday when he sat down with KELOLAND’s Bob Mercer and Dan Santella. Lamb shared how he views people serving time.
“These guys and gals, they’re eventually going to get out and be my neighbor,” Lamb said. “Well, they are also my brothers and sisters. That’s my personal belief, and it is up to me to hopefully make a change and try to give them the tools that they need to succeed in life. I don’t want them in prison. I don’t. I sincerely don’t.”
But, of course, people do commit crimes and receive sentences to spend time behind bars. According to statistics provided by Lamb’s department, adult recidivism in recent years has worsened. The DOC measures success in this area if an offender doesn’t come back within three years. The rates of success for the 2019, 2020 and 2021 cohorts were 60%, 57% and 50%, respectively…