The South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls, as seen on Jan. 9, 2023. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight)
A bill that would force prison lifers to wait longer between clemency requests was returned to its original, more stringent form by the South Dakota Senate.
As amended Thursday afternoon on a 17-15 vote, Senate Bill 9 would require anyone with a life sentence for a violent crime to wait four years between requests for clemency through the Board of Pardons and Paroles.
After hearing Tuesday testimony from Board Chair Myron Rau, the Senate Judiciary Committee altered the bill to give the board the discretion to set repeat requests out anywhere from one to four years. Currently, state law allows repeat requests each year.
Panel backs longer waits between clemency requests for prisoners sentenced to life
The bill sponsor told her fellow lawmakers that the amendment defeated the purpose of her bill.
“The bill is now watered down to the point of minimal effectiveness,” said Sen. Erin Tobin, R-Winner.