2023 CODE OF GEORGIA › Title 42 - PENAL INSTITUTIONS (§§ 42-1-1 — 42-13-2) › Chapter 8 - PROBATION (§§ 42-8-1 — 42-8-150) › Article 6 - CONTRACTS FOR PRIVATE PROBATION SERVICES BY MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY COURTS (§§ 42-8-100 — 42-8-109.5) › Section 42-8-109.2 - Confidentiality of records

(a)
Except as provided in subsection (a) of Code Section
42-8-108
and subsection (b) of this Code section, all reports, files, records, and papers of whatever kind relative to the supervision of probationers by a private corporation, private enterprise, or private agency contracting under the provisions of this article or by a county, municipality, or consolidated government providing probation services under this article are declared to be confidential and shall be available only to the affected county, municipality, or consolidated government, or an auditor appointed by such county, municipality, or consolidated government, the judge handling a particular case, the Department of Audits and Accounts, the Department of Corrections, DCS, the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, or the board.
(b)
(1)
Any probationer under supervision under this article shall:
(A)
Be provided with a written receipt and a balance statement each time he or she makes a payment;
(B)
Be permitted, upon written request, to have a copy of correspondence, payment records, and reporting history from his or her probation file, one time, and thereafter, he or she shall be required to pay a fee as set by DCS; provided, however, that the board shall promulgate rules and regulations clarifying what confidential information may be withheld from such disclosure; and
(C)
Be permitted, upon written request to DCS, to have a copy of the supervision case notes from his or her probation file when the commissioner of community supervision authorizes the release of such information in a written order; provided, however, that the board shall promulgate rules and regulations clarifying what confidential information may be withheld from such disclosure.
(2)
When a probationer claims that information is being improperly withheld from his or her file, the probationer may file a motion with the sentencing court seeking an in camera inspection of such file. The probationer shall serve such motion on the prosecuting attorney and probation officer or private probation officer as appropriate.
(3)
The following shall be subject to disclosure pursuant to Article 4 of Chapter 18 of Title 50:
(A)
The board's rules and regulations regarding contracts or agreements for the provision of probation services;
(B)
The board's rules and regulations regarding the conduct of business by private entities providing probation services as authorized by this article;
(C)
The board's rules and regulations regarding county, municipal, or consolidated governments establishing probation systems as authorized by this article; and
(D)
The rules, regulations, operating procedures, and guidelines of any private corporation, private enterprise, or private agency providing probation services under the provisions of this article.
(c)
In the event of a transfer of the supervision of a probationer from a private corporation, private enterprise, or private agency or county, municipality, or consolidated government providing probation services under this article to DCS, DCS shall have access to any relevant reports, files, records, and papers of the transferring entity.
Amended by 2017 Ga. Laws 275,§ 42, eff. 5/9/2017.
Amended by 2016 Ga. Laws 460,§ 7-10, eff. 7/1/2016.
Renumbered from §
42-8-106
and amended by 2015 Ga. Laws 73,§ 3-2, eff. 7/1/2015.
Amended by 2006 Ga. Laws 743,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2006.