According to a new report, nearly 2000 South Dakota juveniles were successfully diverted from the state’s court system in 2024. Data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows when low-risk youth are kept out of the court system, they are 45% less likely to reoffend.
In Pennington County, diversion programs have been used for about 25 years. State’s Attorney Lara Roetzel says diversion can take many forms– from mural-painting to skateboarding programs– and can help discover the root cause of a child’s undesirable behavior.
“Diversion gives you a chance to really get to know that young person, and get them the help that they need – because it’s not always obvious.”
For example, Roetzel says, a child caught stealing may be doing so to support a drug habit, and would be best served through addiction counseling. She says when a child avoids court or incarceration, the state saves money – so, the state compensates counties for the cost, per child, of successful diversions.
South Dakota Senate Bill 47, passed in 2024, increased the amount paid from $250 to $750 per child. Roetzel says that allows the diversion programming to continue.
“It meant that I just wrote a check this week that will allow me to pay for classes for almost all of the young people that will go through my juvenile diversion programs next year.”
Roetzel says this is helpful because otherwise the outstanding costs land on parents, who often can’t afford to pay them.
A draft 2024 report from the state’s Juvenile Justice Oversight Council shows the Department of Social Services has also expanded community-based treatment options for youth, including functional family therapy and aggression replacement therapy.
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