Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 43 - PUBLIC WELFARE (§§ 43-1-1 — 43-NEW01-012) › Chapter 21 - YOUTH COURT (§§ 43-21-1 — 43-21-915) › RECORDS (§§ 43-21-251 — 43-21-267) › Section 43-21-251 - Court records

(1)
The court records of the youth court shall include:
(a)
A general docket in which the clerk of the youth court shall enter the names of the parties in each cause, the date of filing the petition, any other pleadings, all other papers in the cause, issuance and return of process, and a reference by the minute book and page to all orders made therein. The general docket shall be duly indexed in the alphabetical order of the names of the parties.
(b)
All the papers and pleadings filed in a cause. The papers in every cause shall be marked with the style and number of the cause and the date when filed. All the papers filed in a cause shall be kept in the same file, and all the files shall be kept in numerical order.
(c)
All social records of a youth court, which shall include all intake records, social summaries, medical examinations, mental health examinations, transfer studies and all other information obtained and prepared in the discharge of official duty for the youth court.
(i)
A "social summary" is an investigation of the personal and family history and the environment of a child who is the subject of a youth court cause. The social summary should describe all reasonable appropriate alternative dispositions. The social summary should contain a specific plan for the care and assistance to the child with a detailed explanation showing the necessity for the proposed plan of disposition.
(ii)
A "medical examination" is an examination by a physician of a child who is the subject of a youth court cause or of his parent. The youth court may order a medical examination at any time after the intake unit has received a written complaint. Whenever possible, a medical examination shall be conducted on an outpatient basis. A medical examination of a parent of the child who is the subject of the cause shall not be ordered unless the physical or mental ability of the parent to care for the child is a relevant issue in the particular cause and the parent to be examined consents to the examination.
(iii)
A "mental health examination" is an examination by a psychiatrist or psychologist of a child who is the subject of a youth court cause or of his parent. The youth court may order a mental health examination at any time after the intake unit has received a written complaint. Whenever possible, a mental health examination shall be conducted on an outpatient basis. A mental health examination of a parent of the child who is the subject of a cause shall not be ordered unless the physical or mental ability of the parent to care for the child is a relevant issue in the particular cause and the parent to be examined consents to the examination.
(iv)
A "transfer study" is a social summary which addresses the factors set forth in Section
43-21-157(5)
. A transfer study shall not be admissible evidence nor shall it be considered by the court at any adjudicatory hearing. It shall be admissible evidence at a transfer or disposition hearing.
(d)
A minute book in which the clerk shall record all the orders of the youth court.
(e)
Proceedings of the youth court and evidence.
(f)
All information obtained by the youth court from the Administrative Office of Courts pursuant to a request under Section
43-21-261(15)
.
(2)
The records of the youth court and the contents thereof shall be kept confidential and shall not be disclosed except as provided in Section
43-21-261
.
(3)
The court records of the youth court may be kept on computer in the manner provided for storing circuit court records and dockets as provided in Section
9-7-171
. The Administrative Office of Courts shall recommend to the youth courts a uniform format to maintain the records of such courts.
Laws, 1979, ch. 506, § 23; Laws, 1994, ch. 458, § 9; Laws, 1997, ch. 440, § 6, eff. 7/1/1997.
Amended by Laws, 2014, ch. 375, HB 593, 1, eff. 7/1/2014.