Yankton County Drug & DUI Court to Hold Graduation on January 21
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Jan. 14, 2026
Contact: Alisa Bousa, Public Information Officer, Alisa.Bousa@ujs.state.sd.us or 605.773.2031
Yankton County Drug & DUI Court to Hold Graduation on January 21
PIERRE, S.D.—Yankton County Drug & DUI Court will hold a graduation ceremony on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. CST in Courtroom A on the second floor of the Yankton County Safety Center, 410 Walnut St., Yankton.
With their friends and family in attendance, participants who have successfully completed all phases of this drug and DUI court program will be honored. The event is open to the public and media. A reception will follow.
The featured speaker will be Shanna B. After many years in addiction, Shanna entered the Yankton County Drug Court program in 2017, an experience that became a turning point and fundamentally changed the direction of her life. She now works full time at Lewis and Clark Behavioral Health as an addiction counselor trainee while also a full-time student majoring in addiction and prevention with a minor in psychology. Following completion of her bachelor’s degree, Shanna plans to pursue a master’s degree in addiction and prevention.
Treatment courts are an effective strategy for treating substance use and mental health disorders 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 and/or mental health disorders into lives of stability, wellness and recovery.
Yankton County Drug & DUI Court is a court-managed, alcohol/drug intervention treatment program designed to provide a cost-effective alternative to traditional criminal case processing. As an individual enters this voluntary, intensely-supervised program, they must be motivated to work toward changing their lifestyle and becoming free of alcohol and chemical abuse.
Learn more about South Dakota’s treatment courts at https://ujs.sd.gov/programs-services/treatment-courts. For more information about Yankton County Drug & DUI Court, contact Coordinator Sharon Kraft at 605-661-6587 or sharon.kraft@ujs.state.sd.us.
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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.