KOTA Territory NewsJuvenile detention alternative program takes effect

Juvenile detention alternative program takes effect

The Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative is a program being implemented in Pennington County over the past 6 months.

Instead of sending every troubled youth to the juvenile detention center, kids will be placed in programs where they can receive counseling and even mental health evaluations.

Seventh Circuit Court Presiding Judge Jeff Davis says the program will hopefully decrease costs and rates of repeat offenders.

"There are certainly juveniles that need to be detained. The effort of this program is to make certain, that only these juveniles that need to be detained, for their safety or for public safety, are actually locked up," Davis said.