26-9-7. Liberal construction for protection of child.This chapter and chapters 26-7A, 26-8A, 26-8B, and 26-8C shall be liberally construed in favor of the state for the purposes of the protection of the child from neglect or omission of parental duty toward the child by its parents, as well as to protect the children of the state from the effects of the improper conduct, acts, or the bad example of any person or persons whomsoever, which may be calculated to cause, encourage, or contribute to the dependency or delinquency of children, although such persons are in no way related to the child. Source: SDC 1939, §43.0409 (2).
South Dakota Legal Code