Pennington County Treatment Courts to Hold Two Graduations in May

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: May 19, 2026
Contact: Alisa Bousa, Public Information Officer, via email or 605.773.2031

Pennington County Treatment Courts to Hold Two Graduations in May

PIERRE, S.D.—Pennington County Treatment Courts will hold two graduations in observance of National Treatment Court Month. 

• Pennington County Mental Health Court: Tuesday, May 26, 2026, 3 p.m. MDT, Courtroom C5 (Third Floor)
• Pennington County DUI Court: Wednesday, May 27, 2026, 10 a.m. MDT, Courtroom C8 (First Floor)

Both events will be held at the Pennington County Courthouse at 315 St. Joseph St., Rapid City. The ceremonies will also be streamed live online for those who cannot attend in person.

With their friends and family in attendance, participants who have successfully completed all phases of these treatment court programs will be honored. The events are open to the public and media. 

Pennington County Treatment Courts, which include drug court, DUI court, veterans court and mental health court, are sentencing alternatives that provide lifesaving treatment to justice-involved persons who are substantially impacted by a substance use disorder or mental illness 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.

May is National Treatment Court Month and the perfect time to share the many ways treatment courts are making a positive impact on their communities. Learn more about South Dakota’s treatment courts.

For more information about Pennington County Mental Health Court and Pennington County DUI Court, contact Coordinator Rick Olauson at 605-381-2441 or via email. 

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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 about UJS.