The Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) operates under the philosophy of serving the right youth, in the right place, at the right time, with an emphasis on objectively identifying the least restrictive next step while ensuring community safety. Developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, this juvenile justice system improvement initiative has been successfully implemented in more than 200 jurisdictions across the nation over the past three decades.
A key component of JDAI is collaboration. The transition toward JDAI does not happen overnight, nor does it occur through the efforts of a single person or agency. A successful JDAI framework includes all components of the juvenile justice system and the community working together toward the common goal of achieving the best possible outcomes for youth.
JDAI’s success in South Dakota is a testament to the power of collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and a commitment to ensuring that youth are treated equitably while maintaining public safety. As JDAI continues to evolve, it remains focused on reducing unnecessary detention, expanding alternatives, and improving outcomes for youth and communities across the state.
More Information About South Dakota JDAI
JDAI is built on eight core, interconnected strategies that address the primary reasons why youth are unnecessarily or inappropriately detained. These strategies are:
- Collaboration
- Collecting and Analyzing Data
- Objective Admissions and Use of Detention
- Alternatives to Detention (ATD)
- Case Processing
- Special Detention Cases
- Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities
- Conditions of Confinement
JDAI is in place in the following South Dakota counties:
- Bennett
- Brookings
- Brown
- Butte
- Clay
- Codington
- Davison
- Hughes
- Lawrence
- Meade
- Minnehaha
- Pennington
- Stanley
- Union
- Yankton
JDAI was initially implemented in South Dakota in Minnehaha and Pennington counties in 2011. An expansion of JDAI across South Dakota was guided by the Statewide JDAI Steering Committee, appointed by the Chief Justice in 2014.
All South Dakota JDAI sites have experienced a decrease in detention admissions, along with a notable increase in the use of detention alternatives such as court resource homes and community supervision. These sites are also successfully diverting more youth from the court system for low-level offenses, reducing the burden on court resources and improving outcomes for young people.
The South Dakota JDAI Statewide Steering Committee reviews data and provides recommendations for effective statewide implementation. The goal is to ensure that all seven judicial circuits in South Dakota have the resources, tools and training necessary to implement JDAI principles effectively.
Committee members are:
- Co-Chair Justice Scott Myren, Judicial
- Co-Chair Judge Carmen Means, Judicial
- Kristi Bunkers, Department of Corrections
- Don Kettering, Yankton County Commission
- Jen Bleyenberg, Minnehaha County Commission
- Sara Sheppick, Department of Social Services
- Charles Frieberg, Unified Judicial System
- Judge Karen Jeffries, Judicial, Tribal
- Judge Stacy Vinberg-Wickre, Judicial
- Brian Mueller, Pennington County Detention/Sheriff’s Office
- Chad Seidel, Hughes County Detention
- Terry Dosch, Mental Health/Chemical Dependency
- David Wheeler, Legislator
- Rebecca Kiesow-Knudsen, Lutheran Social Services
- Dr. Tom Stanage, Lewis and Clark Behavioral Health
- Magistrate Judge Sarah Morrison, Judicial
- Joanna Lawler, Pennington County Public Defender’s Office
- Tanner Jordahl, Aberdeen Police Department
- Brad Howell, Codington County Sheriff
- Jess Olson, Legislator
- Jim Miskimins, Davison County State’s Attorney
- Chad Conaway, Director of Student Services, Harrisburg
- Tamie McMeekin, Chief Probation Officer, Seventh Circuit
- Erik Bringswhite- I.am.Legacy Founder, Rapid City
- Ex Officio Members: Annie Brokenleg, Statewide JDAI Coordinator, and Liz Hassett, Seventh Judicial Circuit Court Administrator