SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — A program in two South Dakota counties to keep juvenile offenders out of detention is poised to expand statewide.

The Argus Leader newspaper reports that the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative has trimmed the average number of youths in the Minnehaha County Juvenile Detention Center by more than half since the program began about two years ago. A program in Pennington County has seen similar results.

The state court system has accepted a $100,000 grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation to fund a statewide program coordinator. State Court Administrator Greg Sattizahn says the agency intends to ask legislators to make the position permanent.

The governor's office says it supports the concept.

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