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County briefs commission on expanded juvenile diversion partnerships
Summary
State's Attorney and diversion partners briefed the commission on two juvenile diversion programs — Scouting America’s teen court and a proposed Think 3D cohort program — citing high completion rates and plans to expand capacity with community partners including the Boys & Girls Club.
Minnehaha County’s State’s Attorney, Daniel Hager, briefed the commission on partnerships to expand juvenile diversion options and to use state reimbursement to support local programs. Hager said the county is seeking effective community partners to keep eligible juveniles out of the formal juvenile justice process when diversion is appropriate.
Chris Evans, the county juvenile diversion and teen‑court director, described the teen‑court model used as an approved diversion option for first‑time, nonviolent juvenile offenders. He said referred youths meet with a jury of peers, often receive community service (typically 10–50 hours) and complete program requirements such as essays, community action points and, when appropriate, drug and alcohol assessments. Evans reported a high completion rate for 2024 and low recidivism: "In 2024, we had a successful completion rate of 97.62 percent, which then went for our recidivism rate was 7.14." He said 84 youth had been served so far this year.
Hager and presenters noted state reimbursement for successful diversions has increased in recent years; Hager described both past and current reimbursement levels during the briefing (the exact per‑case and aggregate figures were stated in the presentation but were described in the transcript with inconsistent phrasing). Commissioners welcomed the programs and asked about complaints, facilities and any funding shortfalls.
Damian Dysart of Think 3D presented a proposed juvenile cohort program adapted from adult leaders‑in‑training work. Dysart described a 16‑week, 1.5‑hour weekly program that uses a cohort model and partners with the Boys & Girls Club (which would provide transportation and space). The program targets juveniles who have had law enforcement contact and emphasizes changing peer groups and environments; Dysart said the cohort size would be roughly the mid‑30s and participants must attend at least 12 of the 16 weeks for diversion credit.
Commissioners discussed facility access and possible use of county juvenile justice center capacity if needed. The briefing was informational; no formal commission action was required at the meeting.
Next steps: presenters will continue planning and outreach to sustain and expand the diversion options that the state's reimbursement and local partnerships support.
