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Gov. Dennis Daugaard Signs Juvenile Justice Overhaul Measure

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Gov. Dennis Daugaard has signed a proposal that attempts to shift juvenile offenders toward community-based services and significantly decrease the number committed to the care of the Department of Corrections.

Daugaard signed the bill Thursday flanked by lawmakers and staff who helped pass one of his key policy proposals for the 2015 session.

Daugaard says the proposal aims to increase public safety while holding juvenile offenders accountable at a lower cost.

The plan mirrors 2013 changes lawmakers made to the adult criminal justice system. Daugaard says he’s glad to sign a “major policy initiative that I knew from the outset would be important to South Dakota.”

Daugaard is recommending about $3.2 million for the plan in the next budget cycle. Much of that is to expand access to community services.