SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) -- Overcrowding at a new men's prison in Lincoln County isn't a concern, South Dakota Department of Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko said at Thursday's Senate Judiciary Committee meeting. Wasko said overcrowding was not a concern in response to new lawmaker Republican Sen. Greg Blanc's question about space. 2 dead after drowning in Walworth County The proposed men's prison would add about 1,500 beds, most for what are described as medium security inmates. Wasko said the capacity would be at about 95%. 2 dead after drowning in Walworth County When inmates are moved from overcrowded facilities such as Mike Durfee in Springfield, it will leave 5% vacancy at all facilities, Wasko said. "We want every facility at 5% vacancy," Wasko said. "As people progress, we've had to move them around." Inmates will graduate from higher classification security to lower classification and new inmates will enter the system. Space is needed to make sure those inmates are in the proper location, she said. Her main concern isn't potential overcrowding with a new prison, it's the overcrowding and safety concerns that already exist at the men's prison in Sioux Falls and at facilities such as Mike Durfee, Wasko said. In response to an earlier question, Wasko said about 200 inmates are in the highest security classification in Sioux Falls. But staff are still vulnerable including to "fluid attacks" from inmates in that high security area, she said. And the number of staff is not appropriate for Sioux Falls and Mike Durfee, she said. Conditions are getting to the point, "that if something were to happen, it would be catastrophic," Wasko said. Improving the safety of staff and inmates is part of what is driving the need for a new men's prison. Wasko said more space is needed to provide rehabilitation services to inmates. As an example, the DOC has a re-entry program for inmates to help prepare them for then return to the community after serving their sentence. Staff is excited by that programming but it's "very challenging," Wasko said. Staff needs to share space with other programs and space is already limited. Republican Sen. Jim Mehlhaff asked if re-entry had been successful and if it's had any impact on recidivism. "We just got started in July (2024)," Wasko said. Recidivism is typically gauged in year over year in three-year increments so it's too soon to know, she said. When the courts sentence an individual to return to prison for 30 days, 60 days, six months or a year, it can be difficult to address re-entry with those inmates, Wasko said. The first 30 days of returning to prison are spent on diagnostics to evaluate needs. "We had to take a hard line on that," Wasko said in response to a question from newly-elected Republican Sen. Tamara Grove. Inmates who may have two years to five years remaining on a sentence are involved in the re-entry program when those with shorter sentences return to prison. The DOC will only take those short term returning offenders into re-entry programs if there is room, Wasko said. No longer term offenders will be bumped from the program. About 3,500 inmates in the DOC system have some tie to substance abuse which includes trafficking, being a user, or a distributor or manufacturer, Wasko said. Right now, the DOC has 19 counselors available to those inmates, she said. "When I first got here, 200 of those 3,000 got treated," Wasko said. The DOC is now working with South Dakota State University to add more programming that addresses substance disorders. But space, including that at the new women's prison and the planned men's prison, will help, she said. A therapeutic community of 72 inmates can be addressed by two counselors. Republican Sen. Tom Pischke asked about why Metal Craft Industries (MCI) is no longer involved with the DOC. The metal fabricator had hired inmates for about 20 years. Wasko said she has emails and photos that document reasons why MCI is no longer with the DOC. The program started under Gov. Bill Jacklow. After an investigation, Wasko said, it was determined the program wasn't serving Jacklow's idea. "I have absolutely no hard feelings with MCI," Wasko said. She wishes the DOC and the company could have reached an agreement. MCI was employing a majority of inmates with life sentences or very long sentences, Wasko said. The program was designed to prepare inmates with five to eight years sentences, she said. Those inmates could gain skills that would get them jobs in the community with MCI or some other program, Wasko said. MCI was not willing to have inmates with shorter sentences on the staff, Wasko said. In a May KELOLAND interview, Terry Van Zanten of MCI said the company hired inmates on life sentences because those were the inmates the DOC provided to the company over the years. Van Zanten also said MCI was willing to work with those with lesser sentences but it wasn’t given enough time to train them, he said. Pichske pointed out that inmates employed by MCI earned a wage. Wasko agreed but said the DOC is now working with Southeastern Tech on welding and diesel mechanic programs as part of vocational training for inmates.