South Dakota initiative successfully reduces juvenile detention Friday, November 1, 2019
Public News Service
In the past six years, the youth detention population in South Dakota has decreased significantly and the number of juveniles committed to the Department of Corrections has decreased by 65%.
The reduction is a result of the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, adopted in 2011.
State coordinator Annie Brokenleg says locking youths up can accelerate criminal behavior by harming mental health and can negatively affect future educational and employment opportunities.
Instead, she says tools now are used to determine which youths are eligible to participate in after school or evening rehabilitation activities.