Guam § 4217 - Records.

§ 4217. Records.

The files and records of the court in any proceeding had

under this Article shall be kept in a separate locked file and shall

be withheld from public inspection. Such files and records may,

pursuant to rule of court or special order of the court, be opened

for inspection by persons and agencies having a legitimate interest

in the case and their attorneys and by other persons and agencies

having a legitimate interest in the protection, welfare or treatment

of the child or in research studies. As used in this Section, the

words files and records include the court docket and entries

therein, the petitions and other papers filed in any case, transcripts

of testimony taken by the court, and findings, orders and decrees,

and other writings filed in proceedings before the court, other than

social records.

Social records shall be withheld from public inspection

except that information from such records may be furnished to

persons and agencies having a legitimate interest in the protection,

welfare and treatment of the child or in research studies, in such

manner as the court determines. As used in this Section, the words

social records include the social service records of the court, the

social studies and reports of the court, the social studies and

reports referred to in § 4210, and related papers, and

correspondence, including medical, psychological and psychiatric

studies and reports, either in the possession of the court or the

Division.

No person shall be entitled to make copies of such files and

records or social records or parts thereof unless the court so orders.

It shall be unlawful, except for purposes for which files and

records or social records or part thereof or information therefrom

have been released pursuant to this Section, or except for purposes

permitted by special order of the court, and in accordance with any

applicable rules of the court, for any person to disclose, receive or

make use of, or authorize, knowingly permit, participate in or

acquiesce in the use of any information concerning any person

before the court directly or indirectly derived from the files and

records or communications of the court, or social records, or

acquired in the course of the performance of official duties.

Any person who shall disclose information in violation of the

provisions of this Section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and

upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than Five Hundred

Dollars ($500.00) or imprisoned for a period not to exceed six (6)

months, or both.