Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 45, November 9, 2024
Rule 161 - Inspecting, Copying, and Disseminating Juvenile Probation FilesA.Inspecting and Copying. Except as provided in paragraph (C), juvenile probation files shall be open to inspection and/or copying only by: 1) the juvenile or the juvenile's attorney of record in the instant proceeding;2) the attorney for the Commonwealth;3) the State Sexual Offenders Assessment Board;4) the Juvenile Court Judges' Commission; or5) any other person, agency, or department by order of court.B.Juvenile Probation Information.1) Information maintained by juvenile probation offices other than juvenile probation files shall be subject to inspection and/or copying only pursuant to court order.2) Each juvenile probation office shall create a document, which describes the information that is maintained by the juvenile probation office concerning each juvenile. This document shall be open to inspection and copying pursuant to paragraph (A).C.Contents of Order. The order shall: 1) specify who shall be permitted to inspect the file, information, or any portion thereof;2) specify who shall be permitted to copy the file or information;3) state that the file or information received shall not be disseminated to any person, agency, or department not listed in the court order; and4) state that dissemination of any file or information received is a violation of the court order.D.Disseminating.1) The juvenile probation office has discretion to disseminate portions of its files or information to the juvenile, service providers, placement facilities, and courts and courts' professional staff of other jurisdictions when facilitating placement, the delivery of services, treatment, or transfer of the case to, or supervision by another jurisdiction consistent with applicable Federal or state law.2) Unauthorized dissemination of any file or information to a person, agency, or department not permitted to inspect or copy the file pursuant to this rule may result in a finding of contempt of court.The provisions of this Rule 161 adopted May 21, 2012, effective 8/1/2012, 42 Pa.B. 3203; amended August 23, 2012, effective immediately, 42 Pa.B 5734; amended March 15, 2019, effective 7/1/2019, 49 Pa.B. 1512.