RAPID CITY, S.D. – State corrections officials are warning law enforcement and members of the public about the upcoming release of a high-risk offender expected to reside in Rapid City.

Joseph Cook, 42, is scheduled to be released from state prison on Sept. 25, 2026, after completing the full term of his sentences for controlled substance possession originating out of Pennington County. The stint marked his third incarceration within the South Dakota prison system.

According to state officials, Cook must be released directly into the community without parole supervision because he has served the entirety of his court-ordered sentence.

“This offender has a history of criminal and violent behaviors, including sexual offenses, for which he has refused treatment while incarcerated,” Secretary of Corrections Nick Lamb said. “He has been assessed as a high-risk for future violence through institutional assessments, so we are notifying law enforcement and the public about this release.”

Cook is slated to move to Rapid City upon his release.Authorities describe him as a white male, 6 feet tall, weighing approximately 305 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

The South Dakota Department of Corrections routinely provides monthly notices to local law enforcement agencies and the Division of Criminal Investigation regarding inmate statuses. Since 2011, the department has issued 24 public advisories regarding the pending release of high-risk offenders into communities, including Rapid City.