75th Legislative Session -- 2000

Committee: House Appropriations

                                            P - Present
                                            E - Excused
                                            A - Absent

Roll Call
P      Cerny
P      Burg
P      Sutton (Daniel)
P      Derby
P      Clark
P      Pummel
P      Klaudt
P      Wudel
P      Putnam, Vice-Chair
P      Richter, Chair

(Meeting jointly with Senate Appropriations)

OTHERS PRESENT: See Original Minutes

The meeting was called to order by Chair Frederick

Department of Corrections

The meeting was staffed by Annie Mertz, LRC, and was a continuation from the 9:00 A.M. meeting.

The budget was presented by Jeff Bloomberg, Secretary of Corrections.

Senator Frederick began by questioning the quality assurance for job hiring and screening. Doug Weber, Warden of the South Dakota State Penitentiary, replied that there is a criminal background check done along with the minimum state requirements. Also, for those working with juveniles, there is a child abuse search done. Each employee goes through a six month probation period as well. Doug Herrmann, Superintendent of the Custer Youth Corrections Center, added that there is an extra 32-40 training hours for those employees working with the juveniles.

Senator Frederick, on a personal level, asked how differently the girls would be treated at their boot camp as opposed to the boys. Mr. Herrmann replied that it was very important to build trust with the girls. A lot of the girls come from sexual abuse type situations, and you cannot be as direct with them as you can be with the boys. He stated that girls tend to hold a grudge, so therefore the relationship has to remain consistent over time.

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Senator Benson asked if there was any special training for the employees. Mr. Bloomberg replied yes, there is special training and that to be a Youth Supervisor requires less of a degree as a Youth Counselor. He then stated that it was difficult to find long term employees, because of the stress of the job, and employees leave to find higher paying jobs.

Representative Klaudt stated that the hours of training seemed low for the amount of work. Mr. Bloomberg agreed but stated that training isn't free or cheap and that overtime has to be paid for the post positions.

Senator Frederick asked for the number of successful suicides to date and Mr. Bloomberg replied that there have been no successful suicides from 1970 to present.

MOTION:      ADJOURN

Moved by:      Senator Dennert
Second by:      Senator Benson
Action:      Prevailed by voice vote.

Kendra Richey

Committee Secretary