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Rapid City Today
By the People, for the People
South Dakota Hires Virginia Warden to Lead New Rapid City Women's Prison
The $87 million facility will focus on substance abuse treatment and vocational training programs.
Mar. 28, 2026 at 1:18pm
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The new Rapid City women's prison aims to address high rates of substance abuse through innovative treatment programs.Rapid City TodayThe South Dakota Department of Corrections has hired Eric Aldridge, previously the warden of a medium-security women's prison in Virginia, to lead the state's new $87 million women's prison in Rapid City. The new facility is designed for minimum and medium-security inmates and will house up to 300 women, including a mother-infant program for up to 12 mothers. The prison will incorporate a therapeutic community model for substance use disorder treatment, providing women with several hours of daily intervention and support from medical, behavioral health, and vocational professionals.
Why it matters
More than half of imprisoned women in South Dakota have drug convictions, and over 90% have substance use disorders. The new prison's focus on treatment and vocational training aims to address these issues and help women re-enter society as productive citizens.
The details
The Rapid City women's prison is South Dakota's second women's prison and is expected to open in July. It will help ease overcrowding at the existing women's prison in Pierre, which will continue to operate. In addition to the substance abuse treatment program, the new facility will also offer a business-entrepreneurship program and hospitality training certificates for the incarcerated women.
- The $87 million facility is currently under construction.
- The new prison is expected to open in July 2026.
- Eric Aldridge will begin his role as warden on April 1, 2026.
The players
Eric Aldridge
The new warden of the Rapid City women's prison, previously serving as warden of the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women in Virginia.
Nick Lamb
The Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Corrections, who stated the new prison's therapeutic community model for substance abuse treatment is a 'first-of-its-kind' program in the state.
What they’re saying
“My focus is on positive change and improving the lives of offenders so that they will re-enter society as productive citizens.”
— Eric Aldridge, New Warden, Rapid City Women's Prison
What’s next
The state is also preparing to build a $650 million men's prison in northeast Sioux Falls to replace the oldest parts of the Sioux Falls penitentiary, which dates back to 1881.
The takeaway
The new Rapid City women's prison represents South Dakota's efforts to address the high rates of substance abuse and drug convictions among its incarcerated female population through a focus on treatment, vocational training, and rehabilitation programs designed to help women successfully reintegrate into their communities.
