Pennington County Veterans Court to Hold Graduation on September 3
Seventh Judicial Circuit is proud to announce the next graduation ceremony for participants completing the Pennington County Veterans Court program.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Aug. 27, 2026
Contact: Alisa Bousa, Public Information Officer, via email or 605.773.2031
Pennington County Veterans Court to Hold Graduation on September 3
PIERRE, S.D.—Seventh Judicial Circuit is proud to announce the next graduation ceremony for participants completing the Pennington County Veterans Court program.
Pennington County Veterans Court will hold a graduation on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. MDT in Courtroom C2 (third floor) of the Pennington County Courthouse, 315 St. Joseph St., Rapid City.
The Pennington County Veterans Court team invites the public to join them in celebrating the remarkable accomplishments of these graduates. The ceremony is open to the public, media and cameras. The ceremony will also be streamed live for those who cannot attend in person.
Pennington County Veterans Court was established in 2016 as a sentencing alternative that provides lifesaving treatment to justice-involved veterans who are substantially impacted by a substance use disorder or mental health 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 veterans before the courts receive personalized and evidence-based treatment, ongoing support, recovery services and the benefits they have earned.
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.
Learn more about South Dakota’s treatment courts. For more information about Pennington County Veterans Court, contact Treatment Court Coordinator Ashlee May at 605-394-2595 ext. 1223 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.