After serving as the Hughes County Sheriff for the past 24 years, Mike Leidholt will take over as the South Dakota Secretary of the Department of Corrections early next year.
Leidholt looks forward to continuing his career in public service.
Leidholt won’t have far to move as his current office is in the same building as much of the Corrections staff.
He says it’s too early to talk about specific plans or changes he and Gov.-elect Kristi Noem have in mind, but one area of interest is keeping victims at the center of the criminal justice system.
Leidholt has served in law enforcement since 1975. Throughout his career, he has pioneered efforts to bring the D.A.R.E. program to South Dakota and has led the state in bringing awareness to topics such as mental health and challenges facing Indian Country.
