Yes.
South Dakota’s rate of recidivism – the percentage of convicted criminals who reoffend after already receiving punishment – is among the highest in the United States.
According to the Justice Center, South Dakota was one of 14 states where recidivism increased between 2011 and 2021 when the state went from 42% to 50%. The Justice Center estimates that the state's recidivism costs $44 per person – the ninth highest rate in the country.
That puts South Dakota in the top 10 compared to other states, though differing definitions of recidivism make direct comparisons difficult.
The SD Department of Corrections started a program in 2024 called SAFER SD to ease the transition from prison to community with the goal of decreasing recidivism.
Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum called the state's rate of recidivism "incredibly frustrating" during a news conference after an officer-involved shooting, saying officers "seemingly arrest the same people."
This fact brief responds to conversations such as this one.
Sources
The Justice Center, 50 States, 1 Goal: Recidivism Rate Trends Over the Past Decade
South Dakota Department of Corrections, 2025 statistical report
KELO-TV, Thum on repeat offenders: ‘Incredibly frustrating’
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