Pennington County Drug Court to Hold Commencement Ceremony

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Oct. 16, 2024
Contact:Alisa Bousa, Public Information Officer, [email protected], 605.773.2031

Pennington County Drug Court to Hold Commencement Ceremony

PIERRE, S.D.-Seventh Judicial Circuit Court is proud to announce the next commencement ceremony for participants completing the Pennington County Drug Court program. Pennington County Drug Court will hold a graduation ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at 3 p.m. MDT at the Commission Chambers of the Pennington County Administration Building at 130 Kansas City St. in Rapid City.

The Pennington County Drug Court Team invites the public to join them in recognizing the remarkable accomplishments of these graduates. The ceremony is open to the public, media and cameras. The ceremony will also be streamed live online at https://www.sd.net/UJSCourt2for those who cannot attend in person.

Pennington County Drug Court provides an innovative approach to rehabilitating those substantially impacted by a substance use disorder or mental health disorder who are likely to be rearrested without intervention. This is a public health approach to justice reform in which treatment providers partner with probation, defense, prosecution, law enforcement and the judge to ensure individuals before the courts receive personalized and evidence-based treatment, ongoing support and recovery services.

Treatment courts, which include veterans court, drug court, DUI court and mental health court, are an effective strategy for treating substance misuse and mental illness while reducing recidivism and saving taxpayer dollars. These courts have proven that a combination of supervision, treatment and support can lead people with substance use disorders and/or mental health disorders into lives of stability, wellness and recovery. Instead of prison time, treatment courts deliver services for lifelong recovery, keep our roads safe from impaired drivers, give parents tools they need to stay sober and maintain custody of their children, and divert individuals from a life of substance misuse, mental illness and crime. They have been proven to reduce use of jail and prison beds, emergency room admissions, family conflicts associated with domestic violence and child abuse, and foster care placements.

For more information, contact Pennington County Drug Court Coordinator Ashlee May at 605-394-2595 ext. 1223 or [email protected]. Learn more about South Dakota's treatment courts 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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