South Dakota § 26-8A-21.1 - Exceptions to § 26-8A-21.

Full text of South Dakota South Dakota Codified Laws § 26-8A-21.1 — Exceptions to § 26-8A-21., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 26-8A-21.1. Exceptions to § 26-8A-21.

Nothing in § 26-8A-21 requires reunification of a child with a parent who:

(1)    Committed a crime defined in § 22-16-4, 22-16-7, 22-16-15, 22-16-20, 22-22-1, 22-22-24.3, 22-22A-2, 22-22A-3, 26-10-1, or subdivision 22-19-1(5), or committed conduct described by any of those statutes that violated the law or ordinance of another jurisdiction having elements similar to an offense described by any of those statutes;

(2)    Aided or abetted, attempted, conspired, or solicited to commit a crime defined in § 22-16-4, 22-16-7, 22-16-15, or 22-16-20 or the law or ordinance of another jurisdiction having elements similar to an offense described by any of those statutes;

(3)    Committed a crime defined in § 22-18-1.1, 22-22-7, or subdivision 22-23-2(2) against the child or another child of such parent, or committed conduct described by those sections that violated the law or ordinance of another jurisdiction having elements similar to the offense described by those sections;

(4)    Has been determined by a court by clear and convincing evidence to have subjected the child or another child to torture, sexual abuse, abandonment for at least six months, chronic physical, mental, or emotional injury, or chronic neglect if the neglect was a serious threat to the safety of the child or another child;

(5)    Is incarcerated and is unavailable to care for the child during a significant period of the child's minority, considering the child's age and the child's need for care by an adult;

(6)    Has had parental rights to another child involuntarily terminated by a prior legal proceeding;

(7)    Has a documented history of abuse and neglect associated with chronic alcohol or drug abuse;

(8)    Has exposed the child to or demonstrated an inability to protect the child from substantial harm or the risk of substantial harm, and the child or another child has been removed from the parent's custody because the removed child was adjudicated abused and neglected by a court on at least one previous occasion;

(9)    Has exposed the child to or demonstrated an inability to protect the child from substantial harm or the risk of substantial harm, the child has been removed from the parent's custody on two separate occasions, and the Department of Social Services offered or provided family services on each of the two separate occasions the child was removed;

(10)    Has exposed the child to or demonstrated an inability to protect the child from substantial harm or risk of harm resulting from a crime, act, or omission as specified in subdivision (1), (2), or (3) of this section; or

(11)    Is required to register as a sex offender pursuant to chapter 22-24B.

Source: SL 1998, ch 161, § 2; SL 1999, ch 136, § 1; SL 2001, ch 141, § 1; SL 2007, ch 167, § 1; SL 2012, ch 147, § 1.

Source: official South Dakota text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About South Dakota § 26-8A-21.1

What does South Dakota Codified Laws § 26-8A-21.1 cover?

Section 26-8A-21.1 ("Exceptions to § 26-8A-21.") is part of the South Dakota Codified Laws, the codified statutory law of South Dakota. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite South Dakota § 26-8A-21.1?

A common citation format is "South Dakota Codified Laws § 26-8A-21.1" (South Dakota). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of South Dakota law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the South Dakota official source linked on this page or consult a licensed South Dakota attorney.

How does South Dakota § 26-8A-21.1 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in South Dakota can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in South Dakota.