Confidentiality

Juvenile records are confidential and only persons who are the subject of a Juvenile case or parties listed in Welfare and Institutions Code section 827 may receive information regarding juvenile cases. Juvenile matters require a personal appearance with proper photo identification. Information regarding Juvenile matters is confidential and cannot be given over the phone.

If you believe you have good cause to review a juvenile’s records you must file a Request for Disclosure of Juvenile Case File. See the procedure below.

File Disclosure Request

Request for Disclosure of Juvenile Case File is a procedure handled pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code Section 827.

Filing Fees

There is no filing fee for:

• Petition for Access to Juvenile Case File
• Notice of Petition for Access to Juvenile Case File
• Proof of Service-Petition for Access to Juvenile Case File

Once you file these forms are filed with the Juvenile Court Clerk’s office, they are submitted to a Juvenile Court judge for review:

• Petition for Access to Juvenile Case File
• Notice of Petition for Access to Juvenile Case File
• Proof of Service -Petition for Access to Juvenile Case File

The judge must review the request and the Court’s file before deciding whether to grant the request. The judge can grant, deny or set a hearing on the request.

Possible Outcomes

• If the judge orders a hearing on the request or denies the request, the Juvenile Court Clerk will mail a copy of the Order on Request for Disclosure of Juvenile Case File to the appropriate parties.
• If the matter is set for hearing, the order will contain the court date, time and department.
• If the Request for Disclosure of Juvenile Case File is granted, the Judicial Assistant will photocopy the records to be released. The clerk will also mail endorsed filed copies of the Order After Judicial Review allowing the release of records to the appropriate parties.