South Dakota Treatment Courts Hosting Special Events to Celebrate National Treatment Court Month

May 9, 2025

Press Release, First Judicial Circuit, Second Judicial Circuit, Third Judicial Circuit, Fourth Judicial Circuit, Fifth Judicial Circuit, Sixth Judicial Circuit, Seventh Judicial Circuit, Treatment Court

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: May 9, 2025
Contact: Alisa Bousa, Public Information Officer, Alisa.Bousa@ujs.state.sd.us, 605.773.2031

South Dakota Treatment Courts Hosting Special Events to Celebrate National Treatment Court Month

PIERRE, S.D.—Treatment courts across South Dakota are holding special events in May and June to celebrate National Treatment Court Month.

Every day, courtrooms across South Dakota and the United States are filled with individuals impacted by substance use and mental health disorders. Without treatment to address the underlying cause of criminal behavior, many will continue to cycle in and out of the justice system, burdening law enforcement and at tremendous expense to taxpayers.

“Treatment courts are our most effective approach to the devastation of addiction and justice involvement. Treatment courts break this cycle by holding individuals accountable through a combination of treatment and rigorous supervision and returning them to the community as healthy, productive citizens,” said South Dakota Director of Treatment Courts Noreen Plumage. “Today, approximately 4,000 treatment courts across the nation, including 17 in South Dakota, are now considered the most successful justice intervention in our nation’s history, proving that when one person, family and community rises, we all rise.”

South Dakota’s treatment courts have planned uplifting events to recognize individuals whose lives have been transformed by the treatment and support provided by these programs.

Beadle County Drug & DUI Court hosted an alumni event honoring past graduates of the program on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Huron.
Second Circuit DUI Court will hold a graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at 11 a.m. CDT in Courtroom 3B at the Minnehaha County Courthouse, 425 N. Dakota Ave., Sioux Falls. The keynote speaker will be Magistrate Judge Sara T. Pokela, a prior Second Circuit DUI Court judge.
Sixth Circuit Treatment Court will hold a graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 9 a.m. CDT in the third-floor courtroom at the Hughes County Courthouse, 104 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre. The guest speaker will be Darlene Braun.
Pennington County Veterans Court will hold a graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. MDT in Courtroom C8 (first floor) at the Pennington County Courthouse, 315 St. Joseph St., Rapid City. The ceremony will also be streamed LIVE online at https://www.sd.net/UJSCourt2 for those who cannot attend in person.
Brown County Drug & DUI Court will hold a graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. CDT in the Brown County Community Room in the basement of the Brown County Courthouse, 25 Market St., Aberdeen. Participants also took part in a community service activity and picked up litter last month.
James Valley Treatment Court will hold a recovery celebration on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. CDT in the second-floor courtroom at the Davison County Public Safety Building, 1015 S. Miller Ave., Mitchell. Learn about the program and hear stories of success and recovery from graduates. James Valley Treatment Court will also hold a graduation ceremony on Thursday, June 5, 2025.
Pennington County DUI Court will hold a graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 11 a.m. MDT in the Commission Chambers of the Pennington County Administration Building, 130 Kansas City St., Rapid City. The ceremony will also be streamed LIVE online at https://www.sd.net/UJSCourt2 for those who cannot attend in person.
Second Circuit Mental Health Court will hold a graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. CDT in Courtroom 6A at the Minnehaha County Courthouse, 425 N. Dakota Ave., Sioux Falls.
Second Circuit Drug Court will hold a graduation ceremony on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. CDT at the Old Courthouse Museum, 200 W. 6th St., Sioux Falls.
Brookings County Drug and DUI Court will hold an alumni event for past graduates of the program on Sunday, May 25, 2025, at a community park in Brookings.
Codington County Drug & DUI Court program participants and team members will volunteer to clean totes and pack meals for children at Watertown Area PACH (People Against Child Hunger) on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Codington County Drug & DUI Court will also hold a graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at 2 p.m. CDT in Watertown.
Yankton County Drug & DUI Court program participants and team members will take part in an Adopt-A-Mile cleanup community service project on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Yankton County Drug & DUI Court will also hold a graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Yankton.
Northern Hills Drug Court and Fourth Circuit DUI Court will hold a graduation ceremony on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 2 p.m. MDT at the Sturgis Community Center, 1401 Lazelle St., Sturgis.
Pennington County Mental Health Court will hold a graduation ceremony on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 3 p.m. MDT in Courtroom C5 (third floor) at the Pennington County Courthouse, 315 St. Joseph St., Rapid City. 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 will hold a graduation ceremony on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at 3 p.m. MDT in Courtroom C9 (first floor) at the Pennington County Courthouse, 315 St. Joseph St., Rapid City. The ceremony will also be streamed LIVE online at https://www.sd.net/UJSCourt2 for those who cannot attend in person.
Second Circuit Veterans Court will hold a graduation ceremony at a later date.

National Treatment Court Month is coordinated by All Rise, the training, membership and advocacy organization for justice system innovation addressing substance use and mental health at every intercept point.

According to All Rise, approximately 65% of the U.S. prison population has a substance use disorder, and another 20% were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of their crime. South Dakota experiences similar numbers in the criminal justice system related to substance use disorders. In addition to the cost savings versus incarceration ($8,002 per treatment court participation and $32,000 per incarceration on average), benefits include improved education, employment, housing, financial stability and family reunification.

On any given day, there are more than 400 participants being served in the drug, DUI, veterans and mental health courts in South Dakota. In 2024, more than 800 total clients were served by these courts in South Dakota. Learn more about South Dakota’s treatment courts, which are part of the South Dakota Unified Judicial System, and their upcoming events at https://ujs.sd.gov/treatmentcourts.

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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.