St. Paul, Minn. (Aug. 15, 2025)—Games, graduations, and a friendly game of kickball highlighted Ramsey County treatment courts’ 14th annual picnic.
The event, held Friday, Aug. 15, at the Como Park Pavilion, drew more than 100 people, including court participants, graduates, judges, defense attorneys, probation officers, case managers, and prosecutors
“This picnic is an opportunity for us to celebrate the hard work of our participants,” said Judge Paul Yang, one of the courts’ presiding judges. “Participants and graduates also get to practice the skills they have learned in Treatment Courts and show off their 'new selves' for their family and friends who may not have had a chance to see the change.”
The picnic allows judges and treatment court team members to break down some of the traditional barriers between criminal court staff and those who come before the court. To do that, judges and staff grill and serve food, and play alongside treatment court participants during the kickball tournament, where the “Sober Cup” trophy is at stake.
At the end of the day, everyone gathered for a graduation ceremony to celebrate those who successfully completed one of the four treatment court programs.
Ramsey County’s treatment courts include the Mental Health Court, the DWI Court, the Veterans Treatment Court, and the Adult Substance Abuse Court. In these courts, a multidisciplinary team of professionals collaboratively assists individuals whose criminal acts are driven by substance use, mental illness, or a combination of the two, with a goal of preventing recidivism and promoting a life of recovery.
Ramsey County treatment courts focus on providing holistic services, including chemical and mental health treatment, trauma counseling, employment training assistance, housing assistance, and transportation support. The program typically lasts 15-to-24 months, during which the team works with participants through challenges and successes all while holding them accountable to expectations set by the court.
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