ABERDEEN, S.D. – Students in Northern State University’s Prisons and Penology course recently participated in an educational tour of the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls.
The trip was organized by Dr. Lucas Z. Wiscons, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice in the College of Arts and Sciences, with support from Dr. Elizabeth Haller, Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Professor of English. Fifteen students took part in the tour, including six enrolled in the online section of the course.
Prison officials led the group on a three-hour tour that included both the historic “Hill” facility—originally constructed in 1881—and the modern maximum-security Jameson Annex. According to penitentiary officials, this was the largest tour and the only university group to visit since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Officials commended the students for their professionalism, engagement, and thoughtful questions throughout the experience. Students also shared positive feedback, with one participant describing it as “one of the most informative experiences I’ve ever had.”
“We place high impact learning opportunities at the center of our teaching in the Criminology and Criminal Justice program. You cannot replicate the experience of visiting a prison in a classroom. We’re also in a historic moment. The Legislature has approved over $650 million for a new prison near Sioux Falls. It’s difficult to have an informed position on such a large investment of public money without seeing first-hand the facility that we are replacing,” said Dr. Lucas Wiscons, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Northern State University.
The Prisons and Penology course is part of Northern’s Criminology and Criminal Justice program, housed within the College of Arts and Sciences. The program emphasizes hands-on learning that prepares students for a wide range of careers in the justice system.
For more information about Northern’s Criminology and Criminal Justice program, visit northern.edu or contact Dr. Lucas Wiscons at lucas.wiscons@northern.edu