South Dakota has received a $750,000 Second Chance Act Youth Offender Reentry Initiative grant to help with youthful offender re-entry issues. Earlier this year, South Dakota received a $750,000 Second Chance Act grant for adult offenders.

The grant will help the state's goal of reducing the rate of repeat juvenile offenders by 50 percent within five years. The state will receive $750,000 over three years to implement programs and strategies to reduce recidivism for those released from juvenile facilities to aftercare in the Rapid City area and for youth transitioning to the community from the West Farm program near Sioux Falls.

The Youth Offender Reentry Initiative will establish a transition center for each of the two project locations: Rushmore Academy will serve as the Rapid City transition center and will serve 80 youths per year. The West Farm, a program operated by Volunteers of America-Dakotas, will serve 50 youths in rural Sioux Falls.