DATA WERE OBTAINED FROM ANNUAL REPORTS COMPILED BY THE PENITENTIARY STAFF; FOR COMPARISON PURPOSES, ADDITIONAL LITERATURE AND INFORMATION WERE OBTAINED FROM OTHER STATES. TOPICS INCLUDED IN THE REPORT ARE THE HISTORY AND GROWTH OF THE PENITENTIARY; PRESENT CONDITIONS; RULES, PROCEDURES, AND POLICIES; STAFFING; BUDGETING; AND COMPARISON OF THE EXISTING SITUATION WITH STATE AND FEDERAL STANDARDS. ALSO, NATIONAL AND REGIONAL TRENDS, THE SOUTH DAKOTA INMATE POPULATION AND TRENDS, POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES TO PENITENTIARY USE, AND POLICY ISSUES ARE DISCUSSED. FINDINGS URGE THE STATE PENITENTIARY TO APPLY TO THE COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION FOR CORRECTIONS TO BECOME A FULLY ACCREDITED ADULT CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION. AN INDEPENDENT TASK FORCE SHOULD BE ORGANIZED TO INVESTIGATE THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIENCIES AND REMODELING NEEDS OF THE INSTITUTION. IN ADDITION, A CAMPAIGN SHOULD BE CONDUCTED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON COMMUNITY-BASED CORRECTIONS PROGRAMS AND EXISTING PROGRAMS OF HALFWAY HOUSES AND PRERELEASE CENTERS SHOULD BE EXPANDED. OBJECTIVE WRITTEN GUIDELINES SHOULD BE FORMULATED FOR USE BY THE BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLES IN MAKING PAROLE DETERMINATIONS. FINALLY, FUTURE PRISON POPULATION FORECASTS SHOULD BE PERFORMED BY A STATISTICIAN ON A ROUTINE AND ONGOING BASIS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND EXTENSIVE CHARTS, GRAPHS, AND TABULAR INFORMATION ARE INCLUDED. (LWM)