PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Nov. 22, 2023
Contact: Alisa Bousa, Public Information Officer
Alisa.Bousa@ujs.state.sd.us | 605.773.2031
Yankton County Drug & DUI Court to Hold Graduation Ceremony
PIERRE, S.D.—The Yankton County Drug & DUI Court will hold a graduation ceremony to honor participants’ achievements on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. CST. The event will take place at the Yankton County Courthouse and Safety Center, 410 Walnut St., Yankton, in Courtroom A on the second floor.
The commencement speaker will be Kellee Irvin, who works forLewis & Clark Behavioral Health Services at the Residential Substance Use Treatment Facility. Irvin, who has been in recovery for a substance use disorder for two years, is working on her degree in addiction and substance abuse.
The graduation ceremony shows the commitment the Yankton County Drug & DUI Court team has in the fight to overcome addiction. The ceremony is open to the public, friends and family of the graduating participants, as well as local media. A reception will follow in Courtroom A in the Yankton County Courthouse and Safety Center.
The First Circuit Yankton County Drug Court began operation in 2013, adding a DUI Court track in 2019. The court serves individuals living in Yankton County. Participants must complete extensive treatment, maintain employment, be actively engaged within the community, are subject to frequent drug and alcohol testing, and must comply with weekly court review hearings.
Treatment courts are the most successful intervention for leading people living with substance use and mental health disorders out of the criminal justice system and into lives of recovery and stability. In South Dakota, treatment courts are referred to as Problem-Solving Courts. To learn more, visit https://ujs.sd.gov/Circuit_Court/Problem_Solving_Courts.
For more information, contact Sharon Kraft, Yankton County Drug & DUI Court coordinator, at 605-668-3079 or sharon.kraft@ujs.state.sd.us.
—30—
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.