Juvenile Justice Reform Bill Introduced In South Dakota Legislature

On January 20, 2015, South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard unveiled new legislation, Senate Bill 73, designed to improve outcomes for youth in South Dakota’s juvenile justice system. The legislation changes state law to allow the juvenile justice system to expand community-based options and evidence-based interventions and reserve facility placements for youth who pose a public safety risk. A key goal is preventing youth who commit lower-level offenses from deeper involvement in the juvenile justice system.

The provisions of the legislation, Senate Bill 73, the Juvenile Justice Public Safety Improvement Act, implement the recommendations of the South . . .