SIOUX FALLS — The South Dakota State Penitentiary is operating without its head after Warden Teresa Bittinger was removed from her position this week.
In a memo sent to Department of Corrections staff on Tuesday, Oct. 17, Director of Prisons Amber Pirraglia said Bittinger’s removal was a decision made for “the best interests” of inmates and staff alike, but did not provide any specific reasoning for the decision.
Bittinger first became the state penitentiary’s interim warden in March 2023, before securing the permanent position a month later. Pirraglia will take over Bittinger’s responsibilities at both the main penitentiary and the Jameson Annex while a nationwide search is underway.
The decision to remove Bittinger comes at a crucial time for the Department of Corrections, which, as of late, has been cracking down on various issues within the facility.
In March, multiple days of unrest occurred when the DOC decided to suspend tablet-based calling and messaging services that allowed inmates to keep in contact with the outside world.
In April, just shy of a dozen inmates were charged in connection with a series of prison disturbances that saw injuries to DOC employees, damage to DOC property and fires lit by inmates.
In July, multiple former DOC employees and current inmates were charged with drug crimes and crimes of violence, including arson, in connection to incidents both within and outside the prison.
Beyond issues of control comes the DOC’s decision to construct a new prison in rural Lincoln County, citing the logistical challenges of the existing penitentiary’s age. While the prison “on the hill” was built in 1881 — eight years before South Dakota gained statehood — prison officials say a newer, more modern facility is necessary.
The plans for the new prison were met with public outcry from neighbors and various government officials, who shared concerns over the location’s infrastructure, access to first responders and impact on property value.
Some lawmakers have even criticized the cost. Though the DOC has previously estimated the project will cost between $500 million and $700 million, Rep. Kevin Jensen, R-Canton, estimated the cost to reach as high as $1.2 billion.
A lawsuit over the new prison’s location was dismissed Wednesday, hours after Bittinger’s dismissal.
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