A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION, to conduct an interim study examining local jails and opportunities for collaboration with state correctional plans.

WHEREAS, South Dakota counties have the responsibility to provide local jails to accommodate local offenders; and

WHEREAS, several South Dakota counties struggle to provide adequate local jail facilities for meeting law enforcement and inmate sentencing needs; and

WHEREAS, South Dakota will soon commence a state-wide correctional plan process; and

WHEREAS, counties have not been involved in the state's correctional plan development process to date; and

WHEREAS, there may be strategic opportunities for collaboration among the state and counties to efficiently and effectively meet state and local needs; and

WHEREAS, strategic partnerships among state and local officials regarding correctional needs have served the state well in the past, specifically regarding the South Dakota Women's Prison located in Pierre; and

WHEREAS, it would serve the state well to involve counties in the state's correctional plan process:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Senate of the Ninety-Seventh Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the Executive Board of the Legislative Research Council establish an interim study regarding local correctional needs across the state and opportunities for collaboration within the state's correctional plan, so that efficient and effective solutions among local and state leaders may be realized.