§ 26-7A-10 — Preliminary investigation by state's attorney--Authorized procedure on basis of investigation.

If a state's attorney is informed by a law enforcement officer or any other person that a child is, or appears to be, within the purview of this chapter and chapter 26-8A , 26-8B , or 26-8C , the state's attorney shall make a preliminary investigation to determine whether further action shall be taken. On the basis of the preliminary investigation, the state's attorney may: (1) Decide that no further action is required; (2) If the report relates to an apparent abused or neglected child and if additional information is required, refer the matter to the Department of Social Services for further investigation and recommendations; (3) If the report relates to a juvenile cited violation, proceed on the citation; (4) If the report relates to an apparent child in need of supervision, an apparent delinquent child, or a juvenile cited violation, refer the matter to a court services officer for any informal adjustment to the supervision of the court that is practicable without a petition or refer the matter to a court-approved juvenile diversion program for any informal action outside the court system that is practicable without the filing of a petition; or (5) File a petition to commence appropriate proceedings in any case that the youth does not meet the criteria provided in § 26-7A-11.1 .

Legislative History

SDC 1939, § 43.0304 as added by SL 1968, ch 164, § 4; SL 1977, ch 207; SL 1985, ch 213, § 1; SL 1991, ch 217, § 12B; SDCL Supp, § 26-8-1.1; SL 2015, ch 152, § 4; SL 2017, ch 115, § 1, eff. Mar. 13, 2017.