By Tim Huether The OST/Bennett County Youth Diversion Program is the first ever tribal/state diversion program with the Oglala Lakota Sioux Tribe Housing Authority and Bennett County, starting in September of last year.
The OST/Bennett County Youth Diversion Program is designed to take youths who have committed lesser criminal offenses into the court-approved juvenile diversion program, rather than having them enter the state juvenile justice system.
Some key goals include reducing the rate of juvenile re-offenders, hold them accountable for their actions and connect to protective factors.
Referrals are sent to the Diversion Coordinator, which is Tamera Marshall, with arrest/incident report and youth/family information.
She then contacts the youth and family, schedules intake appointments, depending on the offense committed and the individual needs of each offender. They may recommend any or all the
following: -Community Service
Hours/Projects include: -Random Drug Testing -Apology Letters -Writing Assignment(s) -Drug/Alcohol Evaluations -Counseling -Weekly Check-ins The diversion staff may make random contact with the offender and his or her family during the four-month program to make sure that program requirements are met and to monitor progress.
The primary responsibly for completing the voluntary four-month program rests with the offender and the family.
Through a combination of needs assessment, counseling, classes and cultural activities, the fourmonth program works to:
• Reduce the number of first-time offenders exposed to the justice system.
• Provide services to meet the needs of offenders and their families.
• Hold juveniles accountable for their actions.
• Reduce the rate of juvenile re-offenders.
Marshall said this program has been a good thing but it is too early to tell just how successful the program is since it is fairly new.
She said they have had 29 youth successfully complete the program and they currently have 15 going through it now. Only eight have not completed it after starting it.
One part of the program has the youth helping and working with the communities for their community service and what she has seen is the youth being respectful and working well with the community.
Marshall works out of Pine Ridge but makes trips to Martin on Monday, Thursday and Fridays.
Marshall, who has a Degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology, said this job is her way of giving back to the community. She said she grew up in and around Bennett County and graduated from Pine Ridge High School.
“I can relate to these youth because I was once in their place,” she proclaimed. “I know what they are going through. My goal is to help them see life past their juvenile years.”
She said she still sees the youth who successfully completed the program from time to time and visits with them to make sure they are doing well.
She is there to help them but reminds them and their guardians that she is not there to be their parent, she’s there to help them...motivate them.
Marshall wants the communities she serves to know that the youth are always in need of community service projects so let her know if you need help that they can do.
This program is funded year to year with grant money. The state kicks in $250 for each youth who completes the program to the counties participating and a new bill, Senate Bill 47, that is close to passing, would raise the amount to $750 per youth.
Statewide, county governments have received a total of $2.7 million during the eight years that the incentives have been provided for 12,727 youths for violations such as use of alcohol and illegal drugs, tobacco and truancy.
The Governor is recommending an increase of $1 million in general funds to increase the reimbursement provided to counties for juvenile diversion programs.
As Marshall is the only employee currently working the local program, they are looking for help and anyone interested should contact Marshall and she will help you get the application to fill out.
For more information, you may contact her at: OST/Bennett County Youth Diversion Program Youth Diversion Coordinator, Tamera Marshall 605-6465873 or tamera.marshall@oslh.org.
The program grant, the Anne E Casey Juvenile Diversion Alternative Initiative grant, is a collaboration with the Council of JDAI and the Oglala Lakota Housing Authority.
Photo by Tim Huether Tamera Marshall, above, is the coordinator for the OST/Bennett County Youth Diversion Program.