The Second Circuit DUI Court is set to host a graduation ceremony on February 25, 2025, at 11 a.m. CST. The event will take place in Courtroom 3B of the Minnehaha County Courthouse in Sioux Falls. Those attending should enter through the courthouse's front entry and proceed through security screening before taking elevators to the third floor.
Mel Harrington, a volunteer and board member for Tallgrass Recovery and Sober Living, will deliver the keynote address. Harrington has an extensive background as a social worker and director of counseling and reentry programs at Lutheran Social Services.
For thirty years, there has been an ongoing effort to change how the justice system deals with substance use and mental health disorders. Treatment courts aim to break addiction cycles by holding individuals accountable while providing necessary treatment and support for life changes. The DUI court uses a multi-disciplinary team approach to assist participants in reintegrating into society as law-abiding citizens.
The Second Circuit Drug Court was launched in 2011, followed by DUI Court in 2013, Veterans Court in 2016, and Mental Health Court in 2020. Further information about South Dakota’s treatment courts can be found online.