RAPID CITY, S.D. – Resources from several area law enforcement agencies are being utilized to address ongoing issues with parolees who continue to commit crimes locally while outside the penitentiary setting.

The task force will be comprised of personnel from the Rapid City Police Department, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office, South Dakota Department of Corrections Parole Services, U.S. Marshals Service, and Pennington County 911 Dispatch.

An individual on parole (a parolee) is an individual who has been released from a penitentiary (prison) before the completion of their sentence for the Felony crime(s) they were convicted of.  While on parole, a parolee is not fully discharged from prison and remains under the supervision of the state and a parole agent, where they serve the remainder of their felony sentence in the community.

Beginning this week, law enforcement personnel assigned to the task force will work to identify and apprehend parole absconders and parolees with active criminal warrants across Pennington County. Law enforcement will also be working with SD DOC Parole Services in order to conduct additional checks on parolees, especially in high-crime neighborhoods.

“If you are on parole in Pennington County, we have the tools and resources necessary to help you be successful,” says Pennington County Sheriff Brian Mueller. “However, if you continue to break the law while on parole, we will work to ensure you are held accountable.”

“When individuals on parole continue to reoffend, it raises real concerns about public safety,” says Pennington County State’s Attorney Lara Roetzel. “Addressing violations in a timely and consistent way is critical, and there is room for improvement. We’re encouraged by the creation of this task force and look forward to working with our partners to strengthen coordination and accountability.”

In the best interests of public safety, local law enforcement and prosecutors are requesting an immediate and thorough review of policies and practices for parolee supervision at the state level.

“Over the course of the last several months, parolees have been involved in a variety of high-profile crimes in our community, including a number of violent crimes, shootings, assaults, and even homicides,” says Rapid City Chief of Police Don Hedrick. “We’re going to continue to engage with top state leaders and officials within the South Dakota Department of Corrections to see how we can work together to ensure accountability for parolees who continue to victimize others while outside the penitentiary setting.”

Enforcement operations for the interagency Parole Accountability Task Force will begin in the evening hours of April 15^th and continue into the coming weeks.