Current Event

Think. Create. Record.

Think. Create. Record. is a program supported by the South Dakota State Penitentiary and facilitated by the Compassion Outreach Group’s Art & Poetry Programs. The program aims to give voice to the incarcerated men & women in order to empower them to grow creatively, emotionally, spiritually and in helping them rediscover their value in society. The Compassionate Outreach Group feels giving the incarcerated men & women of South Dakota a voice through art & poetry helps to facilitate dialogue and healing for all the Justice Impacted; the imprisoned, the victims, the friends & families on both sides, the many people involved in the justice system, and the communities that are affected by crime.

You can view inmates most recent work on on the COG Youtube channel.

Prose & Cons is a collection of poetry from the ongoing workshops in the South Dakota State Department of Corrections.

This book was created by the inmates as a way to support the critical work of Family Connection. Family Connection provides hospitality houses that provide shelter for families traveling to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to visit an incarcerated loved one. This service allows families with limited incomes to continue the healing process with an incarcerated family member.

Children’s Connection, a United Way Agency, works with the Sioux Falls School District to provide group counseling services to children with an incarcerated family member. Children with a parent in prison are more likely to be incarcerated themselves. Family Connection, through the Children’s Connection program, is working to break this cycle.

The third edition is slated to be out soon with proceeds going towards the SD Family Connection which provides temporary shelter and support to an inmate’s families to facilitate visitation and strengthen family bonds during incarceration. You can purchase a copy of Prose & Cons through the Family Connection website. Your support of Family Connection and their mission is greatly appreciated!

Finally, if you are interested in directly supporting COG’s efforts, you can learn more about our latest endeavors at our Go Fund Me Page.

Sharing the need for unconditional

love and compassion

Reaching out to the incarcerated

and the rest of society

Inmates working together in service

About COG

COG is an inmate to inmate led service group that brings together incarcerated individuals to support one another through unconditional love and compassion.

Current Programs

Service areas are driven by inmate needs and interest. Currently COG supports Active Empathic Listening training, the New Inmate Workshop, Compassion Cards, Art Group, Poetry Group, Positive Effect Gathering, and the Parole & Reentry Program.