South Dakota statute
SDCL § 22-46-9 — Mandatory reporting of abuse, neglect, or exploitation--Violation as misdemeanor
Current through text effective June 30, 2026 (through the 2025 Regular Session)
Part of Chapter 46: Abuse, Neglect, Or Exploitation Of Elders Or Adults With Disabilities, South Dakota Codified Laws.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of SDCL § 22-46-9
Statutory text current through the text effective June 30, 2026 (through the 2025 Regular Session). This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of South Dakota.
Any:
(1) Physician, dentist, doctor of osteopathy, chiropractor, optometrist, podiatrist, religious healing practitioner, hospital intern or resident, nurse, paramedic, emergency medical technician, social worker, or any health care professional;
(2) Psychologist, licensed mental health professional, or counselor engaged in professional counseling; or
(3) State, county, or municipal criminal justice employee or law enforcement officer;
who knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that an elder or adult with a disability has been or is being abused, neglected, or exploited, shall, within twenty-four hours, report such knowledge or suspicion orally or in writing to the state's attorney of the county in which the elder or adult with a disability resides or is present, to the Department of Human Services, or to a law enforcement officer. Any person who knowingly fails to make the required report is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
A person described in this section is not required to report the abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an elder or adult with a disability if the person knows that another person has already reported to a proper agency the same abuse, neglect, or exploitation that would have been the basis of the person's own report.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is mandatory reporting of abuse, neglect, or exploitation a felony or a misdemeanor in South Dakota?
Mandatory reporting of abuse, neglect, or exploitation is a Class 1 Misdemeanor in South Dakota under SDCL § 22-46-9.
Which South Dakota statute covers mandatory reporting of abuse, neglect, or exploitation?
Mandatory reporting of abuse, neglect, or exploitation is governed by SDCL § 22-46-9 (Mandatory reporting of abuse, neglect, or exploitation--Violation as misdemeanor).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.