Juvenile Justice

The effects of child trauma coupled with recent changes in state juvenile justice policy have left some families to fall through the cracks. For others, juvenile diversion programs offer a second chance to stay out of the juvenile justice system altogether.

SDPB's Jackie Hendry steps into the studio to preview her reporting in the latest episode of "South Dakota Focus" on juvenile justice and trauma.

Diversion programs can help low-offending juveniles avoid getting entangled in the criminal justice system. Lawmakers recently upped the reimbursement rate to counties for these programs, but not every community has the same resources.

We learn more about the state's juvenile diversion programs from the director of the Pennington County program. Kim Moresching joins "In the Moment Statehouse."

The Indigent Legal Services Task Force is narrowing in on how to potentially improve services in South Dakota. From juvenile offenders to public defense, the committee continued their work this week.

A bill to allow state circuit judges to refer kids to the Department of Corrections for repeat nonviolent offenses has crossed its last legislative hurdle.

The House Judiciary Committee heard two Senate bills that arose from a summer interim study designed to improve juvenile justice in South Dakota.

Senate Bill 4 as written, allowed state court judges to refer juveniles to the Department of Corrections after three strikes. Under the amendment, the juvenile has only one strike.

House Bill 1063 hit a snag in the full Senate on Thursday, Feb. 2. There, it received solid opposition and narrowly passed with an 18 to 17 vote.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 4 aimed at give judges in South Dakota greater discretion to send juvenile repeat offenders to DOC