South Dakota State Penitentiary

Are you looking for somebody locked up at South Dakota State Penitentiary?  South Dakota State Penitentiary is a state correctional institution in the South Dakota Department of Corrections.  This guide gives you info about everything a person needs to know about South Dakota State Penitentiary:  How to locate an inmate here.  How to visit South Dakota State Penitentiary inmates.  The address and phone number.  Sending money and mail.  And much more…

Official Name:	South Dakota State Penitentiary
Year Opened:	1881
State:	South Dakota
County:	Minnehaha
DOC:	South Dakota Department of Corrections
Security Level:	minimum
Warden Name:	Doug Weber

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Below is the street address and mailing address for South Dakota State Penitentiary. Use the mailing address if you are going to send a letter or package to a prisoner at South Dakota State Penitentiary, and make sure to use the physical address if you need to know the actual location of South Dakota State Penitentiary.

Make sure to read the Inmate Mail and Package Procedures heading on this page before you send a letter or package to a prisoner so that you correctly address the item, and do the correct procedure for sending a package or letter. If you don’t follow the appropriate steps, the package or letter might not get delivered.

INMATE NAME & REGISTER NUMBER
South Dakota State Penitentiary
1600 North Drive 
Sioux Falls SD, 57117

Use the street address if you are going to visit a prisoner. Be sure to check the Inmate Visitation Procedures and Inmate Visitation Schedule sections on this page before you try to visit someone in prison at South Dakota State Penitentiary.

South Dakota State Penitentiary
3200 East Highway 34, c/o 500 East Capitol Avenue 
Pierre SD, 57501

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South Dakota State Penitentiary inmates don’t have telephones, so you can’t call an inmate, but, there are times when it may be necessary to have the phone number to the prison.

(605) 773-3478

Inmates may be able to make calls using:

• Calling Cards
• Collect Calls
• Dedicated Phone Line
• Prison Calling Plan

Inmates don’t have access to fax machines, so you won’t get to fax the inmate, but there might be times when it may be helpful to have the fax machine number to the facility.

(605) 773-3194

This is the main email address for South Dakota State Penitentiary. You won’t be able to email prisoners at this email address. If you want to send an email to a prisoner, go to the Inmate Email section below.

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Total Inmates:
Total Staff:

To send an email message to an inmate at South Dakota State Penitentiary you must follow an exact process to make sure that the email message is received by your inmate.

Inmates are not allowed to access the Internet.

There are special protocols that you have to follow when mailing mail to a state prison inmate. If you don’t follow these rules then the letters and packages might not get delivered.

before you send a letter or package, be sure to read the information below:

South Dakota State Penitentiary staff open and inspect and read all incoming general postal correspondence. Received general correspondence can be read as frequently as deemed necessary to ensure safety and security or monitor problems regarding inmates.

Below is the proper format for how you must address a letter or package to a prisoner at South Dakota State Penitentiary:

INMATE NAME AND REGISTER NUMBER
South Dakota State Penitentiary
1600 North Drive 
Sioux Falls SD, 57117

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Every prison has a Commissary that serves to provide prisoners a bank-like account for prisoner money and for buying items not issued by the prison.

Friends, family, or other people may send funds to these accounts using the U.S. Postal Service and Western Union.

Via U.S. Postal Service: An inmate’s family and friends are able to send inmates funds in the mail and must send money to the following address and follow the policies written below:

The money must be in the form of a money order made out to the prisoner’s full committed name and complete eight-digit register number. You should use a postal money order, since all non-postal money orders that are processed through the National Lockbox will be held for a 15-day hold period, during which the inmate will not have access to the funds. The Bureau of Prisons will return to the sender any funds that do not have correct inmate information provided the envelope it was sent it has a valid return address. Checks and cash won’t be deposited to the inmate’s account so do not send any checks or cash.

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State prison inmates are often moved to various correctional facilities throughout South Dakota, so sometimes you may have to find the current location of an inmate using the inmate locator. Click the link below to locate an South Dakota State Penitentiary inmate.
Inmate Search

To find other South Dakota state prisons: South Dakota State Prisons

South Dakota Department of Corrections Inmate Search

Before you visit South Dakota State Penitentiary, you must know the following:

• Visitation Schedule
• Visitation Rules
• Visitation Application

Every South Dakota prison has its own rules for prison visitation and they get changed regularly. The policies listed below may be out of date since this was written, so you should also check South Dakota State Penitentiary’s official website to get the most up to date visitation procedures.

The front entrance guard will make sure all visitors sign the prison visitors log before they enter the visitation area and upon exiting.

Picture ID of all visitors will be required. Appropriate forms of identification are Driver’s License and Social Security Card; but, a state photo ID is acceptable.

For all of the things listed below, check the official prison facility site because this information is updated frequently:

• Visitation Rules
• Visitation Dress Code
• Things You Can and Cannot Take to Visitation
• Special Rules For Children, Special Visits, Pastoral or Attorney Visits

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Information about South Dakota State Penitentiary records coming.

Such as:

• Inmate records
• Health records.

If you have any information on these topics to share, please post a comment using the form below.

More information about South Dakota State Penitentiary death row coming.

If you have any information on these topics to share, please post a comment using the form below.

Info about South Dakota parole procedures coming.

For example:

• Parole hearings.
• Review boards.
• Who qualifies for parole.

If you have any information on these topics to share, please post a comment using the form below.

Information about release procedures for South Dakota State Penitentiary will be posted ASAP.

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Details about life at South Dakota State Penitentiary to be added later.

• Activities.
• Daily schedule and routine.
• Recreational facilities available.
• What’s allowed, and what’s not allowed.
• What the food is like.
• What to expect.
• Jobs and work release available.

If you have any information on these topics to share, please post a comment using the form below.

A section on news at South Dakota State Penitentiary coming.

A South Dakota State Penitentiary photo section to be added later.

For example, photos of:

• Cells at South Dakota State Penitentiary
• The yard.
• What inmates wear at South Dakota State Penitentiary.

If you have any photos of South Dakota State Penitentiary that you would like to share, please contact us using the ‘Contact’ link at the bottom of the page.

Are you trying to find a job at a prison? Do you have any prior experience? Have you worked at a correctional facility in the past?

If so, click here: South Dakota State Penitentiary Jobs

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The official website: South Dakota State Penitentiary Website

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.

The Victim Rights Act grants victims the following rights:

• You have the right to protection from the accused.
• You have the right to notification.
• You have the right to attend proceedings.
• You have the right to speak at criminal justice proceedings.
• You have the right to consult with the prosecuting attorney.
• You have the right to restitution.
• You have the right to a speedy trial.
• You have the right to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect.

The definition of victim includes:

• Spouses and children of all victims.
• Parents and guardians of minor victims.
• Parents, guardians and siblings of mentally or physically incapacitated victims or victims of homicide.
• Foster parents or other caregivers, under certain circumstances.

There are a number of services and programs designed to help victims and their families. You can find out about these services by contacting the courthouse, or local law enforcement agency.

The Department of Justice Victim Notification System (VNS) is a system that provides victims with information pertaining to their case and/or any defendants in the case. You will receive a Victim Identification Number (VIN) and a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that will allow you to access VNS via the internet or by phone. Here, you will find information about future court hearings, historical court events, and detailed information about the defendant. This will include criminal charges filed, the outcome of charges, sentence imposed, custody location, projected release date and any other release information. The VNS website is updated daily. You will also receive any ongoing information by mail or email.

Have you, a family member or friend ever used the Victim Notification System? If so, was it effective? Did you get the information in a timely manner? Was the system difficult to use? We would like to hear from you, so please post any comments here.

Click here to tell your story

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Details about family resources available at South Dakota State Penitentiary will be posted ASAP.

A section with the history of South Dakota State Penitentiary coming.

Such as:

• Famous South Dakota State Penitentiary inmates.
• Escapes and prison breaks.
• Executions.

If you have any information on these topics to share, please post a comment using the form below.

Information About Other South Dakota State Prisons: South Dakota State Prisons

South Dakota State Penitentiary Links

The official website: South Dakota State Penitentiary Website
South Dakota State Penitentiary Jobs

South Dakota Department of Corrections Links

South Dakota Department of Corrections Main Website
South Dakota Department of Corrections Prison Directory
South Dakota Department of Corrections Prison Map
South Dakota Department of Corrections Prison Jobs
South Dakota Department of Corrections Prison Inmate Search
South Dakota Department of Corrections Most Wanted

South Dakota Department of Corrections Visitation Policies
Sending Money to a South Dakota State Prison Inmate

Sending Mail to South Dakota State Prison Inmates
Sending Packages to South Dakota State Prison Inmates
South Dakota State Prison Inmate Phone Calls

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Have you ever been incarcerated in South Dakota State Penitentiary? Do you know someone that is an inmate there? Have you ever visited an inmate at this correctional facility?

If so, then you should write a review about it. Write about your prison experience because other people will know what to expect.

What to put in your comment:

• Facility conditions
• Prison facility and layout
• Guards and staff
• Food and commissary
• Visitation
• Inmates
• Safety
• Gangs
• Programs and activities

If you are a prisoner here, include your address if you would like people to be able to send you a letter.

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