Pine County probation reports fewer, shorter juvenile placements and lower costs in 2024

Terry Faucet, Pine County probation director, told the Pine County Board of Commissioners the department placed 36 juveniles in 2024 for an average stay of 18 days and spent $223,000 on out-of-home placement — about $138,000 under the $361,000 budget for juvenile placement programming.

Faucet said the county uses a risk-assessment instrument and coordination with probation and the county attorney to decide whether a young person needs custody after first appearance. “Public safety, best interest of the child, least restrictive,” Faucet said as the guiding principles for placement decisions.

The nut graf: short-term, community-based responses and interagency programs have reduced average placement lengths and overall costs, officials said, but a few long-term cases still account for most bed days and expense.

Faucet told commissioners there were…