South Dakota ranks among the nation’s highest states for repeat criminal offenses. According to the Justice Center, the state’s recidivism rate—the percentage of offenders who reoffend after serving time—rose from 42 percent in 2011 to 50 percent in 2021, placing South Dakota in the top ten nationwide.
The report estimates the state’s recidivism costs at $44 per person, the ninth‑highest rate in the country. Officials note that differing definitions of recidivism make direct comparisons difficult.
In response, the Department of Corrections launched the SAFER SD program in 2024 to help inmates transition back into communities and reduce repeat offenses.
Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum called the state’s high rate “incredibly frustrating,” saying officers often arrest the same individuals multiple times.
