The Fourth Circuit DUI Court and Northern Hills Drug Court are set to host a graduation ceremony on January 9, 2025, at the Sturgis Community Center Theater in South Dakota. The event will begin at 2 p.m. MST and is open to the public and media.
Participants who have completed all phases of the program will be honored in the presence of their friends and family. Emily M., a graduate of the DUI Court and current facilitator for peer support groups at Compass Point, will deliver the keynote address.
The Fourth Circuit Treatment Courts serve Butte, Lawrence, and Meade counties in western South Dakota. The DUI Court operates in Deadwood, while the Drug Court takes place in Sturgis. These courts have been functioning since 2007 as part of efforts to guide individuals with substance use and mental health disorders away from criminal justice involvement toward recovery.
During their participation in either DUI or Drug Court, individuals undergo frequent drug screenings, fulfill financial obligations related to fines and fees, complete extensive chemical dependency treatment hours, secure employment, find stable housing free from substances, and assume leadership roles within sobriety communities.
For further details about this event or South Dakota’s treatment courts program, interested parties can reach out to Rick Olauson at 605-222-0077 or via email at richard.olauson@ujs.state.sd.us. Additional information is also available online.