Youth detention diversion, culvert repairs among items discussed by county commission
The numbers support the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) in Codington County, although challenges still remain.
Louis Canfield, director of youth diversion and prevention at the Watertown Boys and Girls Club, briefed the Codington County Board of Commissioners Tuesday morning on JDAI. The program's goal is to prevent school-aged children with minor legal offenses from taking poor choices into adulthood.
JDAI is a combined effort from law enforcement, prosecutors, judges and supporting local governments to provide education and training for young lawbreakers. It was founded 25 years ago by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and has been adopted by many local governments nationwide.
From JDAI's inception in the county in 2017 through 2022, the daily average of the number of Codington County juveniles incarcerated has dropped by more than half — 1.4 to 0.6. And the average length of stay has fallen from 7.88 days to 3.08. During that same time span, the number of youths referred to take part in the program has increased from 143 to 402.
Some children who are referred to the program decline the offer and their cases can be turned over to prosecutors. Others who participate do so unsuccessfully.
Of the 23 violations over the past 9 months included in Canfield's data, the largest number by far was tobacco offenses (117 cases). Canfield said about 98% of these violations were due to vaping.
Other common offenses were truancy, alcohol use, damage to property and simple assault. Canfield said the latter charge was an area which has seen a recent uptick.
Canfield also gave an example where a youth who’s assaulted in his home and officials determine it’s not safe to return there, the youth would be detained in jail. Canfield said that scenario can occur 6 to 10 times a year.
To alleviate that situation, the commissioners approved an agenda item authorizing Chairman Lee Gabel to sign a letter of support and apply for a $22,000 grant from South Dakota Corrections for a Court Resource Home. If approved, the funds would go directly to the Boys and Girls Club. The home, privately owned by Rich and Barrett Ohm, would provide shelter for youth unable to return home for a night or a weekend.
Road repairs
County Highway Superintendent Rick Hartley asked and received from commissioners to declare an emergency and authorize the hiring of Banner Associates of Brookings for engineering services for road repairs on County Road 6 east of Waverly.
Hartley provided photos on how spring runoff eroded space between 2 72-inch culverts providing drainage under the paved road. Hartley said the pavement and 3-feet of earth above the culverts are holding in place, but he fears a potential collapse of the road bed, causing possible extensive repairs. He’s hoping Banner can supply a less costly repair alternative.
In other actions, the commissioners:
• Approved a notice for bidders on a micro-surfacing road project for 8.5 miles on County Roads 6A and 23.
• Accepted a bid of $16,494.29 from Floors & Moore of Watertown for nylon carpeting in the Second Floor Courtrooms and adjacent rooms in the courthouse.
• Took no action on enacting a burn ban in the county but warned anyone considering a controlled burn to contact the 911 Center (605-882-6210) of the planned burn’s location.
• Approved a notice of public auctions for the leasing of county hay land.
• Heard county Veteran Service Officer Todd Rose say that 2,051 veterans in Codington County received $19.4 million from the U.S. Veterans Administration in 2022. Of that total, $9.8 million was for compensation and pension.