SD Attorney General Office Update: Elder Abuse and Mandatory Reporting

Overview:

The people most likely to commit acts of elder abuse are family members, friends, and caregivers. We will explore elder abuse in the criminal justice system and how that relates to healthcare workers. We’ll look at risks of elder abuse to watch for. We’ll conclude with how to report acts of elder abuse as a mandatory reporter.

Objectives:

• Increase knowledge about the vocabulary specific to elder abuse.
• Increase knowledge about factors that contribute to the risk of elder abuse.
• Increase understanding of mandatory reporting regarding elder abuse.

CE’s: NHA & SW

Presenter:

Kimbery Zachrison, Assistant Attorney General, Office of the South Dakota Attorney General

Kimberly Zachrison was born and raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She began college at Black Hills State University. After two years, she transferred to Dakota Wesleyan University, where she received a BA in History and Criminal Justice with a Minor in American Indian Studies. Kimberly moved to Lansing, Michigan. She attended Thomas M. Cooley Law School. She graduated in January 2009 with a JD emphasis in Litigation. After graduation, she returned to South Dakota where she was admitted to the South Dakota State Bar in 2010.

In June of 2012, Kimberly became the first attorney to be deputized in multiple counties. She became the Deputy State’s Attorney for Beadle, Clark, Hand, Jerauld, Kingsbury, Miner, Sanborn, and Spink counties. In March of 2013, three more counties were added: Brule, Buffalo, and Faulk. In January 2017, three more counties were added: Potter, Sully, and Hyde for a total of 14 counties. She handled Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking and Violation of Protection Order cases under a Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) grant. This position is one of a kind for South Dakota. She has appeared in at least 25 counties on behalf of the State.

In 2014, Kimberly attended the National Institute on the Prosecution of Elder Abuse in Washington D.C. With that knowledge, she has prosecuted Elder Abuse crimes throughout her counties. In 2015, she was one of a hundred attorneys selected to attend the National Domestic Violence Symposium in San Diego. At the Symposium, the Domestic Violence White Paper was created and is currently being distributed by the National District Attorneys Association.

In 2019, Kimberly became an Assistant Attorney General. She is the prosecutor for the Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Unit. The Unit is comprised of a prosecutor, coordinating investigator, and an analyst. Along with her unit, she assists local law enforcement and local prosecutors with Elder Abuse and Financial Crimes throughout the entire state of South Dakota.