South Dakota Treatment Courts to Hold Special Events in May

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: April 30, 2024
Contact:Alisa Bousa, Public Information Officer
[email protected]| 605.773.2031

South Dakota Treatment Courts to Hold Special Events in May

PIERRE, S.D.-Treatment courts across South Dakota will hold special events in May to celebrate National Treatment Court Month.

Rather than continuing the revolving door of addiction and related crime, treatment courts lead people with substance use and mental health disorders out of the justice system and into lives of recovery, stability and health. South Dakota's treatment courts have planned uplifting events to recognize individuals whose lives have been transformed by the treatment and support provided by these programs.

• Brown County Drug Court participants will help with community service activities and clean up litter, sort recycling and organize materials for transport at the Brown County Landfill on May 2, 2024.
  
  
• Sixth Circuit Treatment Courtwill hold a graduation ceremony in the State Capitol Rotunda, 500 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, on May 15, 2024, at 9 a.m. CDT. The public is invited to attend.
  
  
• Pennington County Veterans Court will hold a graduation ceremony in Courtroom M1 (second floor) at the Pennington County Courthouse, 315 St. Joseph St., Rapid City, on May 16, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. MDT. The public is invited to attend.
  
  
• Fourth Circuit DUI Court and Northern Hills Drug Court will hold a graduation ceremony at the Sturgis Community Center Theater, 1401 Lazelle St., Sturgis, on May 16, 2024, at 2 p.m. MDT. The public is invited to attend.
  
  
• James Valley Drug & DUI Court will hold a team fun night on May 16, 2024.
  
  
• Pennington County DUI Court will hold a graduation ceremony in the Commission Chambers of the Pennington County Administration Building, 130 Kansas City St., Rapid City, on May 22, 2024, at 10 a.m. MDT. The public is invited to attend.
  
  
• Second Circuit Veterans Court will hold a fishing event for current participants and mentors at Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls on May 22, 2024. They will also volunteer at The Banquet in Sioux Falls on May 31, 2024.
  
  
• Codington County Treatment Courtwill hold a graduation ceremony in Courtroom #222 at the Codington County Courthouse, 14 First Ave. SE, Watertown, on May 24, 2024, at 10 a.m. CDT. The public is invited to attend. Participants and team members will also volunteer cleaning up bins at the Watertown Area PACH (People Against Child Hunger) on May 29, 2024.
  
  
• Pennington County Drug Court will hold a graduation ceremony in Courtroom C8 (first floor) at the Pennington County Courthouse, 315 St. Joseph St., Rapid City, on May 28, 2024, at 3 p.m. MDT. The public is invited to attend.
  
  
• Beadle County Drug & DUI Court will hold an alumni day in the third-floor courtroom of the Beadle County Courthouse, 450 Third St. SW, Huron, on May 29, 2024, at 2 p.m. CDT. The recovery celebration will include an informative panel of program graduates. The public is invited to attend.
  
  
• Brookings County Drug & DUI Court will hold an alumni day in the third-floor courtroom of the Brookings County Courthouse, 314 Sixth Ave., Brookings, on May 30, 2024, at 10 a.m. CDT. The recovery celebration will include an informative panel of program graduates. The public is invited to attend.
  
  
• Second Circuit Drug Court will hold a graduation ceremony on May 31, 2024. The public is invited to attend.
  
  
• Yankton County Drug & DUI Court will hold a graduation ceremony at the Yankton County Courthouse and Safety Center, 410 Walnut St., Yankton, on June 6, 2024. The public is invited to attend.
  
  
• Pennington County Mental Health Court and Second Circuit DUI Court are also planning upcoming graduations.

"Treatment courts like ours differ from traditional court because we invite treatment providers and other public health professionals to be a part of the team. They ensure each person in our program receives an evidence-based treatment plan," said South Dakota Director of Treatment Courts Noreen Plumage. "Treatment providers work together with the judge, defense attorneys, prosecutors, probation and law enforcement to provide ongoing support and accountability to program participants in their recovery journey."

This approach allows treatment courts to identify and meet individual needs beyond clinical treatment, such as education, employment, housing assistance, family reunification, restitution and health care. Treatment courts prove it is possible to repair lives, reunite families, reduce drug use and crime, and to do so at far less cost than jail or prison time.

National Treatment Court Month is coordinated by All Rise, the training, membership and advocacy organization for justice system innovation addressing substance use and mental health. Learn more about South Dakota's 17 treatment courts, which are part of the South Dakota Unified Judicial System, at https://ujs.sd.gov/Circuit_Court/Problem_Solving_Courts/Default.aspx.

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About South Dakota Courts:The Unified Judicial System (UJS) consists of the Supreme Court, Circuit Courts and State Court Administrator's Office. The Supreme Court is the state's highest court and final decision maker on South Dakota law. The Circuit Courts are the state's trial courts where criminal proceedings and civil litigation are handled. The State Court Administrator's Office provides centralized administrative assistance and support services for the South Dakota judiciary. Learn more at https://ujs.sd.gov.

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