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Rule 215. Records and Proceedings

Arizona Revised Statutes AnnotatedRules of Procedure for the Juvenile CourtEffective: July 1, 2022

Arizona Revised Statutes Annotated
Rules of Procedure for the Juvenile Court (Refs & Annos)
Part II. Delinquency
1. Delinquency Scope and Procedures
Effective: July 1, 2022
17B A.R.S. Juv.Ct.Rules of Proc., Rule 215
Formerly cited as AZ ST JUV CT Rule 19
Rule 215. Records and Proceedings
Currentness
(a) Juvenile Court Delinquency Files.
(1) Legal File.
(A) Contents. The juvenile court's legal file consists of all pleadings, motions, minute entries, orders, or other documents as provided by rule or court order.
(B) Public Access. The legal file must be open to public inspection, except for portions of the file that are closed because they are designated by the judge as confidential. The court may close all or part of the legal file after finding a need to protect the welfare of the juvenile or the victim or finding a clear public interest in confidentiality.
(C) Confidential Documents. The clerk must file and segregate confidential documents within the legal file, including any documents and information originating in the social file. See A.R.S. § 8-208(G).
(D) Disposition File. The disposition file includes the Rule 222 disposition report, any attachments to the disposition report, and any documents from the legal or social file that were included with the disposition report. Documents in the disposition file are confidential documents.
(2) Social File.
(A) Contents. The social file is maintained by the probation department and consists of all social records, including diagnostic evaluations, psychiatric and psychological reports, treatment records, medical reports, social studies, DCS records, police reports, detention records, and records and reports or work product of the probation department.
(B) No Public Access. A juvenile's social file is confidential and is not open to public inspection without a court order.
(b) Proceedings. Delinquency proceedings are open to the public, except upon the court's written finding of a need to protect the interests of a victim, the juvenile, a witness, the State, or a clear public interest.
(1) Request to Close Proceeding.
(A) Notice of Request. Any person who requests that all or a portion of a proceeding be closed to the public must give the parties reasonable notice of the request. The person also must give notice to any other person designated by the court, which may include media representatives.
(B) Hearing. The court must hold a hearing before the proceeding to determine whether the proceeding should be closed and must consider the positions of the parties.
(C) Factors. In determining whether to close all or part of a proceeding, the judge may consider any relevant factor, including the likelihood that an open proceeding may:
(i) be emotionally harmful to a particular participant or victim; or
(ii) inhibit testimony or the disclosure or discussion of information material to the truth finding or rehabilitation process.
(c) Release of Juvenile Court Files.
(1) Release to Juvenile Probation Departments. The juvenile court may release a legal and social file to a juvenile probation department in another jurisdiction when release is necessary for the juvenile's supervision.
(2) Release to Federal Authorities. Upon request of the United States Attorney's Office, the juvenile court must promptly release to that office for presentment to a federal magistrate judge any records concerning a juvenile who is arrested for a criminal offense, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 5032.

Credits

Added Dec. 8, 2021, effective July 1, 2022.
17B A. R. S. Juv. Ct. Rules of Proc., Rule 215, AZ ST JUV CT Rule 215
State Court Rules are current with amendments received through May 15, 2024. The Code of Judicial Administration is current with amendments received through May 15, 2024.
End of Document