PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Sept. 20, 2023
Contact: Alisa Bousa, Public Information Officer, Alisa.Bousa@ujs.state.sd.us | 605.773.2031
Northern Hills Drug Court and Fourth Circuit DUI Court to Hold Joint Graduation Ceremony
PIERRE, S.D.—Northern Hills Drug Court and Fourth Circuit DUI Court will hold a joint graduation ceremony to honor participants’ achievements on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, at 2 p.m. MDT. The event will take place at the Sturgis Community Center at 1401 Lazelle St. in Sturgis.
The keynote speaker will be Jeffrey DeKraai, a clinical mental health therapist with Black Hills Counseling Services. The commencement is open to the public, as well as family and friends of the participants who are graduating. Media is invited to attend, with interviews available upon request.
Northern Hills Drug Court and Fourth Circuit DUI Court are an alternative to prison for criminal defendants who have alcohol and/or drug addiction. Drug/DUI Court is a voluntary program which is abstinence-based and intensive in nature. A team approach is used to help participants get sober and into long-term recovery.
The programs include regular appearances before the Drug/DUI Court judge, frequent and random drug and alcohol testing, addiction counseling in individual and group settings, mental health counseling in individual and group settings, a system of behavior modification based on incentives and sanctions, assessment for participation in complementary treatment and social services, participation in community support groups and pro-social activities, employment or education programs, and intense community supervision by the Drug or DUI Court team.
For more information, contact Alisa Bousa, Unified Judicial System public information officer, at 605-773-2031 or alisa.bousa@ujs.state.sd.us.
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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.