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Minnehaha County JDC reports drop in secured bed days for Lincoln County, outlines services and capacity
Summary
Jamie Gravatt told Lincoln County commissioners the county used 541 secured detention bed days in 2025 (down about 230 days, ~30% from 2024) and spent $269,310 on detention services; he described construction progress and community partnerships aimed at rehabilitation.
Jamie Gravatt, director of the Minnehaha County Juvenile Detention Center, briefed the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 13 about juvenile detention use and services provided to Lincoln County youth.
Gravatt said Lincoln County used 541 secured detention bed days in the last year, a reduction of roughly 230 days — about 30% — from 2024. He reported the county’s average daily population in secured detention was 1.5 children per day and that Lincoln County paid $269,310 for detention services at the JDC. On community supervision, Gravatt said usage increased about 7% (1,478 days) with total community-supervision spending of $118,432. He told the board he will provide year-end shelter-care expense numbers later this month.
Gravatt described the facility’s construction progress: phase 1 (housing, education and recreation) opened Oct. 20 and has improved the ability to separate youths and reduce hands-on interventions. "We've had kids telling us they feel safer in the new facility," he said. He added that the facility’s usable layout (two wings) allows staff to separate youths involved in the same incident so they do not cross paths.
Commissioners asked about the drivers of juvenile involvement. Gravatt said he does not have the complete dataset but cited poverty as a major driver and noted ongoing drug issues (methamphetamine remains the primary drug of concern) and guns in the Sioux Falls area as contributing factors. On recidivism, Gravatt said the same youths do return at times but the "revolving door" is not as fast as it used to be. He also outlined partnerships with nonprofit and public providers — Journey of Hope (art therapy), Emily's Hope (prevention services), Carroll Institute, Call to Freedom and VOA — and said many providers rely on grants. Gravatt said Sioux Falls Public Schools provides education inside the facility and the center can help youths earn GED credit.
Gravatt said the building was enlarged from available 54 beds in the old facility to 64 potential beds; the center set operational capacity at 48 and will staff and open additional housing units as needed. He said the JDC serves about 18 counties and noted some Department of Corrections placements are housed at the facility.
No formal board action was taken; commissioners thanked Gravatt and asked to receive additional data when available.
