Pennington County Drug Court to Hold Graduation Ceremony on September 10
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Sept. 3, 2025
Contact: Alisa Bousa, Public Information Officer, Alisa.Bousa@ujs.state.sd.us, 605.773.2031
Pennington County Drug Court to Hold Graduation Ceremony
PIERRE, S.D.—Pennington County Drug Court will hold a graduation ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, at 3 p.m. MDT in the Commission Chambers of the Pennington County Administration Building, 130 Kansas City St., Rapid City.
The Pennington County Drug Court Team invites the public to join them in recognizing the remarkable accomplishments of these graduates. With their friends and family in attendance, participants who have successfully completed all phases of this treatment court program will be honored. The event is open to the public and media.
The ceremony will also be streamed live online at https://www.sd.net/UJSCourt2 for those who cannot attend in-person.
Pennington County Drug Court was established in 2016 as a sentencing alternative that provides lifesaving treatment to justice-involved persons who are substantially impacted by a substance use disorder and 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 participants receive personalized and evidence-based treatment, ongoing support and recovery services to improve their overall wellbeing.
Treatment courts, which include drug court, DUI court, veterans 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.
Learn more about South Dakota’s treatment courts at https://ujs.sd.gov/programs-services/treatment-courts. For more information about Pennington County Drug Court, contact Coordinator Ashlee May at 605-394-2595 ext. 1223 or Ashlee.May@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.