Secretary of Corrections Nick Lamb announces that Eric Aldridge has been selected to serve as the first warden of the Rapid City Correctional Facility, which is scheduled to open this summer.

“Warden Aldridge has 30 years of experience in corrections and brings an innovative approach to our system,” said Secretary Lamb. “We’re fortunate to have someone with his experience join our team.”   

Aldridge has served as a rehabilitation counselor, security assessment analyst, and in facility leadership positions. He most recently served as the warden of the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women, a Level III security facility operated by the Virginia Department of Corrections in Troy, Virginia.

Aldridge holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Weber State University and an M.P.A. from Brigham Young University. He will begin his work in South Dakota on April 1, 2026. A photo is attached.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to serve as warden of a new facility and to implement industry best practices,” said Warden Aldridge. “My focus is on positive change and improving the lives of offenders so that they will re-enter society as productive citizens.”   

The Rapid City Correctional Facility will be a Level III security facility with 300 beds to house medium and minimum custody offenders, along with a Mother-Infant program. Photos of the facility construction progress are available here.

The facility will utilize a therapeutic community model for substance use disorder treatment with offenders receiving 4-5 hours of therapeutic interventions per day from a comprehensive team including medical, behavioral health, and vocational professionals.

“This will be a first-of-its-kind program in South Dakota, with a structured residential treatment program designed to specialize in the treatment of substance use disorders and the rehabilitation of offenders through peer and staff led, community-based therapy,” said Secretary Lamb. “We have not used this model in our other facilities because of a lack of available programming space. This modern facility allows us to do so.”

The facility will also feature a Business–Entrepreneurship program, a partnership between the Department of Corrections (DOC), the state Department of Labor and Regulation (DLR), and Western Dakota Technical College. As part of the Business-Entrepreneurship program, offenders will earn a certificate for the Hospitality Training Program from the Department of Tourism.

Efforts to staff the facility are underway. You can find information on available positions in security, case management, medical and behavioral health services, finance, maintenance, and electronics posted on the state Bureau of Human Resources and Administration (BHRA) website here.

DOC and BHRA representatives will also be on-site at the DLR Rapid City Job Service Office at 2330 North Maple Avenue for a “Meet the Employer” event on Wednesday, April 8^th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. MDT. Applicants will be able to ask questions, apply for an available position, and receive an interview.