District of South Dakota Offender Workforce Development Program

The Offender Workforce Development Program offers employment services to formerly incarcerated individuals in the state of South Dakota. This government-run program is offered through the United States Probation and Pretrial Services in the District of South Dakota. Five main elements are provided in this employment program: assessment, discovery, job readiness, training and education, and placement follow-up and retention. Collaborative efforts through the U.S. Probation Office Offender Workforce Development Specialist, South Dakota Career Centers, halfway houses, and other providers all assist incarcerated people in this employment process. Eligible individuals include pre-release incarcerated people in contract with halfway houses for release, and those under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office in the District of South Dakota. Individuals must be unemployed or underemployed for thirty days before being referred to the Offender Workforce Development Program. Potential participants may also be appropriate for the program if they have minimum to no skills or job history. However, incarcerated individuals should not have any regular non-compliance or have a pending criminal case or revocation hearing which results in incarceration. Contact the Offender Workforce Development Program coordinator directly for more information on their services.