Veteran’s Court FAQ
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
What is South Dakota veteran’s court?
Veteran’s Court is a program that is available to some veterans who have significant mental health, drug, and/or alcohol dependency problems and are facing either felony or misdemeanor charges. To participate in the Veteran’s Court, you must be a veteran, the State must consent to your participation, and you must be approved by the Veteran’s Court committee. Veteran’s Court focuses on supervision and helping the participant to utilize programs that could assist in the recovery process.
Participants in Veteran’s Court routinely complete alcohol and/or drug treatment, mental health counseling, enroll in medication management services, and school or career development programs. Successful completion of the Veteran’s Court program will result in dramatically less jail time than one would normally receive for the offense originally charged.
Veterans Court is not offered everywhere in South Dakota but is currently available in Sioux Falls, Watertown, and Rapid City. For more information on Veteran’s Court please visit the Veteran’s Court site on South Dakota’s Unified Judicial Systems website.