South Dakota Legislature Moves to Reform Juvenile Justice System

South Dakota Legislature Moves to Reform Juvenile Justice System ^ | 3-11-15 | Paige Lafortune

[ThethoughtsofGreg]

esterday, the South Dakota House of Representatives passed the Juvenile Justice Public Safety Improvement Act, legislation that aims to strengthen the state’s juvenile justice system by safely prioritizing spending on the most serious offenders. The legislation now goes to Governor Daugaard for his signature.

The passage of the comprehensive juvenile justice reform follows on the success of South Dakota’s Public Safety Improvement Act of 2013, bipartisan legislation aimed at fixing the adult criminal justice system. Through principles and ideas similar to those found in its adult-focused predecessor, the Juvenile Justice Public Safety Improvement Act will prioritize spending on violent juvenile offenders while placing nonviolent juvenile offenders under supervision and into community-based programs.

The legislation was the result of the findings of the Juvenile Justice Reinvestment Initiative Working Group, a bipartisan and inter-branch group charged with developing a set of recommendations for South Dakota’s juvenile justice system. The Working Group found that juvenile imprisonment cost taxpayers anywhere between $41,000 and $144,000 per bed every year. Despite these levels of spending, 45 percent of youth released from a residential facility in South Dakota return to custody within three years. South Dakota leaders decided their communities, youth and taxpayers deserved more.

[ColdOne]

while placing nonviolent juvenile offenders under supervision and into community-based programs Obamayouth?

[wardaddy]

They could stand to work on foster care and CPS and corrupt state attorneys

That scandal is simply pitiful

[stars & stripes forever]

It appears to be just that, community-based programs.