The Pennington County Drug Court is set to hold a graduation event on April 9 at 3 p.m. MDT to honor participants who have successfully completed the program. The event is open to both the public and media, and will take place in the Commission Chambers of the Pennington County Administration Building, located at 130 Kansas City St., Rapid City. Those unable to attend can watch the live stream at https://www.sd.net/UJSCourt2.
The drug court operates as part of a broader strategy to rehabilitate individuals affected by substance use or mental health disorders. The initiative brings together treatment providers, probation, defense, prosecution, law enforcement, and the judiciary to offer customized, evidence-based treatment and recovery services.
Facilities such as veteran court, drug court, DUI court, and mental health court aim to tackle issues related to substance misuse and mental illness, reduce reoffending rates, and save on public spending. The courts work on combining supervision, treatment, and support to help participants achieve stability, wellness, and recovery without resorting to prison time.
For additional details about the Pennington County Drug Court, interested parties should contact Drug Court Coordinator Ashlee May at 605-394-2595 ext. 1223 or via email at ashlee.may@ujs.state.sd.us. More information about South Dakota’s treatment courts can be found at https://ujs.sd.gov/Circuit_Court/Problem_Solving_Courts/Default.aspx.