The new Oglala Sioux Tribe Justice Center is set to open on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. "We are still in the process of writing the polices, ordering everything we need and hiring people to fill the positions," said Jean Fire Thunder. Fire Thunder works as the Captain of Corrections for the tribe and says that there are 57 positions needing filled prior to opening in June. Forty-five of these positions will work in the tribes corrections department. Photo courtesy Beasley Management

Justice Center approaches opening
By Brandon Ecoffey
Lakota Country Times Editor
www.lakotacountrytimes.com

PINE RIDGE-- For many years the Oglala Sioux tribal corrections department operated with almost no resources and tiny facilities. Those circumstances are set to be a thing of the past as a brand new multi-million dollar Justice Center nears completion.

The physical building that was made possible by a $42 million grant from the Bureau of Indian Affairs consumes nearly 92,000 square feet is located south of Pine Ridge Village and will contain enough room to house an 88-bed jail for adults and juveniles, offices for the OST attorney general, tribal law enforcement and other entities including the Oglala Lakota County Sheriff's office.

Although the project is a massive construction endeavor, the current dilemma facing the tribe is finding people to fill the plethora of new employment needs at the facility.

"We are still in the process of writing the polices, ordering everything we need and hiring people to fill the positions," said Jean Fire Thunder. Fire Thunder works as the Captain of Corrections for the tribe and says that there are 57 positions needing filled prior to opening in June. Forty-five of these positions will work in the tribes corrections department.

An aerial view from 2014 shows construction of the new justice center on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Photo from Beezley Management

She would go to note that the housing at the Justice Center will only be used for individuals who have yet to be sentenced by a tribal judge. Those who have been found guilty of crimes will be transported to the tribes Adult Offender Facility located near the new Justice Center. Juveniles will be housed at the tribe's juvenile detention center in Kyle.

The new facility will help to alleviate some of work load placed on the tribe's corrections department according to Melinda Reddest.

"Since they had the closing of the old Pine Ridge jail all pre-adjudicated inmates have been forced to be housed at the Adult Offender Facility," said Melinda Reddest, Facility Administrator for the Justice Center.

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She says that things are in place for an opening in June but there are still positions to be filled and policies put in place.

"All we need to do is pass our policies and standard operating procedures," she added.

Reddest said that the Justice Center was waiting for a list of qualified candidates to clear a preliminary hiring checklist prior to conducting interviews and hiring staff.

(Contact Brandon Ecoffey at editor@lakotacluntrytimes.com)

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