Life Behind Bars
Warden Bob Dooley Has Seen Historic Changes
Bob Dooley has spent his adult life in prisons, but he says it’s rewarding.
That’s because the Mike Durfee State Prison warden helps inmates change their
lives.
“I treat them like human beings,” he said. “I treat them fairly, and they recognize
and respect that.”
He also considers his staff as professionals who maintain high standards while
working under trying conditions.
“We require honest, hard-working individuals with high integrity. We’ve
raised our standards over the years and work with staff on a lot of training,” he
said. “This is a very stressful business, and there’s a lot of burnout. But we have
employees who have been here a number of years and are dedicated to what they
do.”
Next June, Dooley marks 35 years with the South Dakota Department of
Corrections (DOC). He has spent nearly all of it at Springfield, where he helped
convert a former college campus into a medium-security prison.
“I was also named the state’s director of prison operations in 2013,” he said. “I
supervise all of the other wardens. In that way, we ensure continuity within the
Department of Corrections.”
During his tenure, Dooley has seen and worked with historic changes in the
South Dakota prison system. The changes involve facilities, inmate numbers and
programs.
At the beginning, Mike Durfee State Prison served as a co-ed facility. A women’s
prison was later opened at Pierre, and Springfield became the current all-male
prison.
Dooley oversees nearly 2,000 inmates. He serves as warden for about 1,260
prisoners at Springfield. In addition, around 320 and 300 inmates at the
respective Yankton and Rapid City community work centers (formerly trusty
units) fall under his direction.
Springfield operates as a medium-security prison, while Yankton and Rapid
City are run as minimum-security facilities.
Dooley doesn’t see his work at Springfield as merely a desk job. Each day, he gets
out of the office to learn what’s on the minds of those behind the fence.
“It’s important that the warden always be visible. You have to listen to the staff
Next June, Warden Bob Dooley with Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield
will mark 35 years with the South Dakota Department of Corrections (DOC).
Besides his Springfield position, he oversees the Yankton minimum security unit
and serves as the South Dakota Director of Prison Operations.
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