The Pennington County treatment court teams are set to host two graduation ceremonies in November, celebrating the achievements of participants who have completed their respective programs. The public is invited to attend these events.
Seventh Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey R. Connolly will deliver a speech at the Mental Health Court graduation ceremony scheduled for November 19. The ceremonies will be accessible to the public, media, and cameras. Additionally, they will be streamed live online for those unable to attend in person at https://www.sd.net/UJSCourt2.
Established in 2013, the Pennington County DUI Court offers an alternative to incarceration for individuals with substance use and mental health disorders who are likely to reoffend. Over the past 11 years, it has provided intensive supervision, treatment options, support services, and community resources aimed at enhancing participants' overall wellbeing.
Similarly, the Pennington County Mental Health Court was founded in 2019 with a focus on justice-involved persons facing similar challenges. For five years, this program has offered similar services designed to support participant recovery and reintegration.
For further details on either program, interested parties can contact Court Coordinator Sean Ireland at 605-394-2595 ext. 1345 or via email at sean.ireland@ujs.state.sd.us. Additional information about South Dakota’s treatment courts can be found at https://ujs.sd.gov/Circuit_Court/Problem_Solving_Courts/Default.aspx.