South Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice David Gilbertson delivered his annual State of the Judiciary address to. a joint session of lawmakers in Pierre. His message focused on issues that impacted the judiciary and his goals moving forward.
Gilbertson stated, "I have spent much time talking about UJS problem-solving courts and alternative sentencing programs -- Drug Courts, DUI Courts, Veterans Treatment Courts, Mental Health Courts, and the HOPE Program. We all agree that people who commit crimes should be held accountable and the public safety protected. However, we also need to be realistic enough to deal with the underlying cause of what got them into the criminal justice system in the first place."
Gilbertson says ignoring the underlaying cause makes the criminal justice system a revolving door. Now he says it's time to look for new opportunities to help people.
"The UJS is exploring the concept of incorporating mental tele-health services within the judicial system. We have discussed establishing mental tele-health services with law enforcement entities that are not large enough to have direct local access to these services. When I discussed this idea with Walter Panzirer, the trustee of the Helmsley Charitable Trust, we though tit would be worthwhile to see if this concept could be expanded to provide mental tele-health services to others in the criminal justice system. Governor Noem has agreed to also participate in the study of this proposal," he said.
Gilbertson says it could help defense attorneys dealing with clients, judges in providing better proceedings, and court service officers with tools to better supervise prisoners with mental health issues.
As Gilbertson reflects on the accomplishments and changes during his 19 years, he stresses South Dakota cannot return to the brick and mortar institutions the state once operated under.