Guam § 4312 - Records.

§ 4312. Records.

(a) The files and records of the court in any proceedings had

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

be withheld from public inspection, but shall be opened to

inspection by persons having a legitimate interest in the case and

their attorneys and by an authorized agency to which legal custody

of the child has been transferred. Such files and records may,

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

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.

(b) 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 referred to in § 4307, and related papers,

and correspondence, including medical, psychological and

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

or the Division.

(c) No person shall be entitled to make copies of such files

and records or social records or parts thereof unless the court so

orders.

(d) It shall be unlawful, except for purposes for which files

and records or social records or parts 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 Subsection shall be guilty of a

misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not to

exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or imprisoned for a period

not to exceed six (6) months, or both.