Juvenile Justice in South Dakota: Where Are We? Where Are We Going?
The opinions, statements, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this session are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the conference hosts.
This presentation will highlight South Dakota’s Juvenile Justice process and the successes and challenges that still exist. The state has increased the amount of youth being diverted from the formal court process and decreased the amount of youth admitted into detention. There is still a need for increased mental health services for youth at every stage in the juvenile justice system.
Presented by Annie Brokenleg and Jamie Gravett
Community Response to Child Abuse Conference 2022
Annie Brokenleg, MSW, Juvenile Diversion Coordinator, State of South Dakota Annie Brokenleg holds her Master’s of Social Work degree from the University of South Dakota and is a Licensed Certified Social Worker in South Dakota. Ms. Brokenleg is currently the statewide Juvenile Diversion Coordinator for South Dakota. In her role, she works with several jurisdictions across the state to find alternatives to detention and expand diversion programming that is grounded in a Positive Youth Development approach.
Jamie Gravett, Director, Minnehaha County Juvenile Detention Center Jamie Gravett is a lifelong resident of South Dakota. Jamie graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of South Dakota. In his almost thirty years of service to community, he has gone full circle and is now back where he started serving youth in the juvenile justice system as the Director of the Minnehaha County Detention Center. He is a life member of the South Dakota Corrections Association, serving as a committee member, the Treasurer, and the President for the SDCA. He was the 2013 recipient of the Herb Venekamp Outstanding Member award. On December 1, 2014, he was appointed by Governor Dennis Daugaard to the Council for the Interstate Commission of Juveniles which he is currently the Vice-Chair. He has served on many committees and work groups to implement reform in our Juvenile System.
