Attendees gather at the Sioux Falls downtown library for a meeting of the group South Dakotans Impacted by Incarceration on Sept. 19, 2024. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight)
SIOUX FALLS — Family members and friends of people in state prison packed a downtown library meeting room Thursday night in Sioux Falls for the first meeting of a group that aims to put pressure on the Department of Corrections (DOC) to address their concerns.
The organizers of South Dakotans Impacted By Incarceration told the 70 in-person attendees and 40 online viewers that their plans include regular meetings, advocacy and outreach to those in power.
A panel of lawmakers, activists and a county sheriff fielded questions and heard concerns for an hour and a half, with many personal stories and calls to action met with raucous applause.
Co-founder Erin Vicars of Sioux Falls told the crowd that she and co-founder Nieema Thasing of Elkton began discussions on creating a group about five months ago, in part as a response to controversies and security issues that have played out over the past eight months.