Department of Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko is facing criticism from some members of the Project Prison Reset Task Force.
Rep. Tim Reisch is on the task force and a former DOC secretary. He wrote in an opinion piece on the Dakota Scout that her “policies are clearly jeopardizing the safety of inmates and staff.”
Reisch added that if something doesn’t change, then she should be replaced.
Gov. Larry Rhoden said he is aware of the comments. He said though he has respect for Rep. Reisch, he’s confident in Wasko.
“I’ve also had a good working relationship with Reisch through the years, and he’s been a good public servant. But I don’t believe it’s fair for him to ask for her resignation just because of differences in opinion how policy should be administered," Rhoden said. "I think that’s unfair and I think Wasko’s done a good job given the situation she inherited several years ago when she took the reigns as secretary of DOC."
Secretary Wasko responded in an op-ed herself on the Dakota Scout. She wrote she’s modernized corrections in the state.
She added “Corrections should be focused on rehabilitation, not just locking people up” and that she realizes “they can be hard for those who have been involved in corrections for a long time to understand.”
