New prison would incarcerate more Natives

Anyone believing African-Americans, Latino-Americans, or American Indians are disproportionately imprisoned because they are more often criminals is wrong. In fact, white people per capita commit at least as many drug-related crimes than their non-white brethren o amigas. 

In South Dakota alone mass incarceration fuels the white foster home industry: a pet project of a Republican former governor's wife and the state's relations with tribal nations trapped there are at historic lows. Racism is endemic in South Dakota, especially in reservation border towns like Rapid City and with guidance from the Koch's American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC Republicans routinely pass legislation that disenfranchises Native voters. 

63% of the more than 500 women in South Dakota's lockups are Indigenous Americans.

While Native Americans make up one-tenth of South Dakota’s population, they make up 35% of those in state prisons, according to Prison Policy Initiative, a nonprofit public policy group. [South Dakota set to spend $2 billion on prisons]

Even though Mitchell is already a prison residents there have convinced local politicians to protest putting a new dungeon south of town. 

In a related story, South Dakota has hired a former CoreCivic employee as the warden for its state penitentiary as Democratic New Mexico US Senator Martin Heinrich calls for ending the contract Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE has with CoreCivic at a prison complex in Estancia.