Daugaard: STAR Academy Juvenile Facility to Close in April

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A state-run juvenile corrections facility near Custer that has seen a significant decline in population in recent years is going to be shut down.

Governor Dennis Daugaard announced STAR Academy's April closure on Wednesday.

Daugaard says the average daily juvenile population under the Department of Corrections' jurisdiction has halved over the last decade.

He says an overhaul of the juvenile justice system aimed at decreasing the number of youth offenders in state-sponsored care is expected to contribute to that trend.

The 64 employees working at the academy were given layoff notices.

The governor's office says $6 million has been allocated under the overhaul to community-based programs across South Dakota. The programs are meant to allow youth offenders to stay in their communities while addressing issues such as drug abuse.

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