• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- South Dakota needs to cut prison costs and improve the rehabilitation of criminal offenders by treating more of those convicted of nonviolent crimes outside prison walls, Gov. Dennis Daugaard said Tuesday in his State of the State address to start the 2013 legislative session.
• Daugaard urged state lawmakers to approve a set of proposals that include expansion of programs that keep drug and alcohol offenders out of prison by placing them in intensive treatment programs. Other recommendations would change sentencing laws and put more nonviolent offenders on probation.
• Intensive probation and parole will do a better job of preventing convicts from committing new crimes while also saving the state about $200 million in the next decade, Daugaard said. Without the changes, South Dakota would have to build a new men's prison and a new women's prison in the next 10 years, he said.
• "This set of proposals is not about being soft on crime. This is about being smart on crime," the Republican governor said. "More importantly, these recommendations will hold offenders more accountable and make our state safer."
• The proposed changes in South Dakota's criminal justice system were recommended by a study panel appointed by Daugaard, Supreme Court Chief Justice David Gilbertson and legislative leaders. After a 50-minute speech to a joint session of the South Dakota House and Senate, Daugaard joined Gilbertson and legislative leaders from both parties to introduce a 33-page bill that includes the proposed changes.
• Legislative leaders from both parties praised Daugaard for pushing the criminal justice reform measure.
• "This is the way to start off a legislative session, with a joint effort by all three

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