The Second Circuit Drug Court team invites the public to recognize the accomplishments of participants completing the program. A graduation ceremony will take place on Friday, May 31, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. CDT in Courtroom 6A at the Minnehaha County Courthouse, 425 N. Dakota Ave., Sioux Falls.
The celebration is open to the public, as well as family and friends of the graduating participants. Media is invited to attend, with interviews available upon request. Attendees are asked to enter through the front entry of the courthouse and undergo security screening before proceeding to the sixth floor via elevators located to the right of the security area.
Keynote speakers for the event will be Jordan Banker and Abbey Miller, two past graduates who have continued their recovery and become community leaders. Drug court graduation marks an important milestone in participants’ journey toward building a life of responsibility and accountability. To graduate, participants must successfully complete all five phases of this rigorous program.
During their time in the program, participants have undergone multiple drug screens each week, paid fines and fees, and completed numerous hours of chemical dependency treatment. Additionally, they have secured employment, stable housing, and become leaders in sobriety.
Second Circuit Drug Court offers an innovative approach to rehabilitation by providing supervision and access to counseling, treatment, and support instead of prison time. This allows offenders to overcome addiction while contributing to society by paying taxes during rehabilitation rather than becoming a community burden. Participants are repeat offenders who are employed and repaying court costs, fines, and child support while working toward achieving and maintaining sobriety.
For more information, contact Desiree Kincaid, Second Circuit DUI Court coordinator, at 605-215-2648 or desiree.kincaid@ujs.state.sd.us. More details about South Dakota’s treatment courts can be found at https://ujs.sd.gov/Circuit_Court/Problem_Solving_Courts/Default.aspx.