PIERRE — South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem approved immediate raises for correctional officers, from twenty dollars an hour to twenty-three dollars and as much as twenty eight dollars an hour.
That was to plug the growing number of vacancies. Democratic Governor candidate Jamie Smith of Sioux Falls says it’s a first step…
Smith says all correction workers deserve higher pay….
Smith says the overall mission of the Department of Corrections needs a closer examination…
Corrections Department Secretary Kellie Wasko told a legislative committee this week that they had over one hundred thirty vacant jobs of the five hundred some corrections officers.