Second Circuit Veterans Court to Hold Graduation Ceremony on Aug. 14, 2024
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Aug. 7, 2024
Contact: Alisa Bousa, Public Information Officer, Alisa.Bousa@ujs.state.sd.us, 605.773.2031
Second Circuit Veterans Court to Hold Graduation Ceremony
PIERRE, S.D.— Veterans Court graduation is an important part in a participant’s journey to building a life of responsibility and accountability. The Second Circuit Veterans Court team invites the public to join them in recognizing the accomplishments of participants successfully completing all five phases of the program.
A Second Circuit Veterans Court graduation ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, at 9 a.m. CDT in Courtroom 3B at the Minnehaha County Courthouse, 425 N. Dakota Ave., Sioux Falls. This event is open to the public, as well as family and friends of the participants who are graduating. The public is asked to enter the courthouse through the front entry, where they will have to go through security screening. They will then take the elevators, located to the right of the security area, to the third floor.
American Legion Post 15 Sioux Falls Honor Guard will begin the event, and veteran law enforcement will lead the ceremony. Volunteer mentors will present Veterans Court participants with their challenge coins, and Judge Eric C. Johnson will present them with their certificates.
Attorney Seth Klentz, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, will give the keynote address. Klentz has worked primarily in criminal defense but was a team member of Second Circuit Veterans Court during his time at the Minnehaha County State’s Attorney office. Klentz says his time spent with the Veterans Court team remains one of the most valued experiences of his career.
Second Circuit Veterans Court provides an innovative approach to rehabilitation. Instead of prison time, Veterans Court guarantees supervision and allows offenders access to counseling, treatment and support to help them overcome addiction. The Veterans Treatment Court model requires regular court appearances, as well as mandatory attendance at treatment sessions, and frequent and random testing for drug and alcohol use.
Second Circuit Veterans Court is dedicated to providing support, accountability and a sense of community to veterans in need. The court utilizes volunteer veteran mentors to assist participants in the treatment court process and to foster connection to the community.
For more information, contact Desiree Kincaid, Second Circuit Veterans Court coordinator, at 605-215-2648 or desiree.kincaid@ujs.state.sd.us. 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.