by April Scheinoha
Editor
The Pennington-Marshall Counties DWI Court continues to make a difference. At its meeting Tuesday, Dec. 30, the Pennington County Board heard an update from DWI Court team member Miranda Solem with Sanford Health.
DWI Court serves non-violent addicted individuals who have had multiple DWIs in Pennington and Marshall counties. The goal is to help them stay sober and reduce recidivism through intense supervision, treatment and a change in behavior.
DWI Court is a five-phase program spanning a minimum of 14 months. Solem indicated that Judge Tamara Yon, who serves on the support team for DWI Court participants, often says that the participants’ probation officer is their new best friend. Participants talk about their plan for the day with their probation officer,, and they have random field visits and scheduled office meetings with their probation officer.
Solem noted participants are also required to abstain from alcohol and drugs; cooperate with frequent, random and observed alcohol and drug testing; and attend DWI Court hearings.
During the first two phases of the program, participants are tested a minimum of three times per week. In the next two phases, they are tested a minimum of twice a week. During the fifth phase, they are tested a minimum of once a week.
Support team members know that relapse is a possibility with participants, and sanctions are in place to help them. Solem said it’s rare to terminate someone’s participation in DWI Court. However, she noted termination may happen if there have been general repeated failures and the team has done everything it can to help the participant.
Pennington-Marshall Counties DWI Court Coordinator Kari Wittenberg said participants are discharged from the program if they have a warrant and/or try to fake an alcohol/drug test.
In order to graduate from the program, participants need to reach certain goals, such as maintaining sobriety, obtaining their driver’s licenses again, obtaining a job and/or completing treatment. After graduation, the participant has a six-month probation term.
The program is able to serve a maximum of 25 participants at one time. Over the past fiscal year, from Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2025, six participants joined DWI Court. Three were terminated from the program, and five graduated.
Currently, there are eight Pennington County residents and five Marshall County residents in the program. There are four recent/upcoming graduations from the program – two from each county.
Solem is among many individuals who support DWI Court participants. The support team also includes Yon, Wittenberg, probation, the county attorney, defense counsel, law enforcement, treatment providers, mental health services, social services and victim services.
Over the past 10 years of the program, the majority of the participants – 64% – have been male. Sixty-six percent of the participants have been between the ages of 25 and 44. In that time frame, 210 participants have obtained their driver’s licenses and 114 have obtained employment. Ninety-five percent of the administered tests were negative for alcohol and drugs.
After Solem’s presentation, commissioners approved a $2,500 request from the DWI Court for incentives for participants and graduates. DWI Court receives federal funding and is unable to use federal funding to purchase incentives.