The South Dakota Department of Corrections has hired Wanda Markland to be the Warden of the South Dakota Women’s Prison in Pierre.
Corrections Secretary Denny Kaemingk says Markland brings years of correctional experience to the department in administrative, management and security positions.
Markland says the position of Warden at the South Dakota Women’s Prison offers an opportunity to use her experience as well as explore new areas of interest in the field of corrections.
Markland begins her new position next month (August). She replaces Brent Fluke, who was named the warden of the Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield following the retirement of Bob Dooley.
The state closed Fiscal Year 2018 with 4,001 total prison inmates– a new record high population. Of that total, 564 are female inmates. Eighty-six percent of the female prison population on June 30, 2018, were inmates sentenced for non-violent crimes. Nearly two-thirds of the female inmates (64 percent) were serving time for drug offenses.
