The Appropriations Committee of the South Dakota legislature began hearing from state agencies this week in advance of the 2020 session that starts next month.

The Department of Corrections was among the first up and Secretary Mike Liedholt says they continue to have capacity issues at the women’s prison in Pierre….

Liedholt says they also have problems finding enough staff…

Liedholt says while they offer drug treatment programs they don’t want to be the first choice for drug offenders…

Over sixty percent of those being held in the Pierre facility are in on drug charges.