DCI will investigate both nights of 'disturbance' at the South Dakota State Penitentiary

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is directing the state's Division of Criminal Investigation to investigate two "disturbances" Wednesday night and Thursday night at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls.

Jackley said in a statement Thursday morning following Wednesday night's incident that he's directed DCI to work with the state Department of Corrections to investigate the disturbance. That statement also applies to Thursday night's disturbance, the Office of the Attorney General spokesman Tony Mangan told the Argus Leader on Friday morning.

"It is the Attorney General’s intent to prosecute those responsible for any harm done to correctional officers, other inmates, and state property to the fullest extent of the law," Jackley said in a statement.

More: AG Jackley says DCI will investigate 'disturbance' at state prison

Shortly after 10 p.m. Thursday, multiple local media outlets reported fire alarms, yelling and chanting could be heard at the facility, and more correctional officers were called in to help settle the disruption, but the exact details remain unclear.

Specific details of the first incident also remain unclear. The Argus Leader has reached out to the DOC and Noem's office multiple times over the last two days to ask about the events, including what happened during and since the incidents, who was assaulted and how badly they were injured, how "order was restored," and what policies the prison has regarding "disturbances." The Argus Leader had yet to receive a response as of 10:15 a.m. Friday.

Multiple staff at the penitentiary, including Warden Teresa Bittinger, interim major Cody Hanson, a lieutenant, a maintenance worker, a construction worker, and two corrections officers, would not answer questions from two Argus Leader reporters who were present at the penitentiary on Friday morning.

Between 4-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, a similar incident unfolded, with audible chants of "We want phones" coming through the penitentiary's walls from inside.

Inmates could be heard "yelling, screaming and banging" from outside the facility Wednesday evening, according to Argus Leader visual journalist Samantha Laurey, who was on scene.

By 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, DOC Secretary Kellie Wasko released a statement that "order has been restored at the South Dakota State Penitentiary," and noted the "disturbance" included a staff assault.

More: Order restored after 'disturbance' at South Dakota State Penitentiary: DOC Secretary

Gov. Kristi Noem told broadcast media outlets Thursday afternoon that the incident was tied to the recent indefinite suspension and investigation of the use of tablets, texting and email services inside the prison.

The DOC suspended tablet usage and texting and email services March 8 for inmates with no definitive end date as part of what was described an ongoing investigation, South Dakota Searchlight reported.

The tablets, offered at no cost to the state by a private company contracted with the DOC for inmate telephone services, are something the inmates must pay to use, South Dakota Searchlight reported. They offer services like the ability to send messages, make phone calls, listen to music and more, including the ability to research or take courses online, the nonprofit news outlet reported.

Now the use of a landline is the only option, the news outlet reported. That can often involve long wait times or the frustration of talking over other inmates in loud common areas, the outlet reported.

According to a 2023 Fiscal Year Statistical Report about the DOC's correctional facilities, the state penitentiary had an onground population of 792 with an average daily population of 755.

A look at the history of offender assaults on staff in 2022 at the state's correctional facilities showed a five-year high, but in 2023 showed a five-year low with 61 total assaults. Of those, six resulted in serious injury to a staff member, the report states.

The report also states in 2023 there were 193 cases involving use of force, 85% of which were unplanned incidents. The Jameson Prison Annex had the most use of force cases in 2023 with 91 incidents, 63 (69%) in which pepper spray was used, the report shows

This story is developing. Check back for more.

− Argus Leader Morgan Matzen contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: DCI to investigate both nights of SD State Penitentiary 'disturbance'