Committee Recommends Tightening of Rules for Access to Juvenile Probation Records

There is a proposed amendment to the Juvenile Rules of Procedure regarding access to juvenile probation files.  Juvenile probation files will be defined as records contained in the official juvenile court record, including but not limited to social studies, school records, health, psychological and psychiatric evaluations, drug and alcohol testing, placement reports, employment records, and probation evaluations.  The only individuals who will be able to view juvenile probation files are the juvenile’s attorney, the attorney for the Commonwealth, and any other person, agency or department by order of court.  The court order will have to specify the information to be disseminated, who is entitled to review the record, whether the record may be copied, and a warning that dissemination to other individuals is a violation of the order.

The Juvenile Court Procedural Rules Committee is accepting suggestions, comments, or objections until September 20, 2010.  Comments are preferably received by email to Christine Riscili, Esq. at juvenilerules@pacourts.us.

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