2023 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes › Title 42 - JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE › Chapter 63 - Juvenile Matters › Section 6307 - Inspection of court files and records

§ 6307. Inspection of court files and records.
(a) General rule.--
All files and records of the court in a proceeding under this chapter are open to inspection only by:
(1) The judges, officers and professional staff of the court.
(2) The parties to the proceeding and their counsel and representatives, but the persons in this category shall not be permitted to see reports revealing the names of confidential sources of information contained in social reports, except at the discretion of the court.
(3) A public or private agency or institution providing supervision or having custody of the child under order of the court.
(4) A court and its probation and other officials or professional staff and the attorney for the defendant for use in preparing a presentence report in a criminal case in which the defendant is convicted and who prior thereto had been a party to a proceeding under this chapter.
(4.1) A court in determining custody, as provided in 23 Pa.C.S. §§ 5328 (relating to factors to consider when awarding custody) and 5329.1 (relating to consideration of child abuse and involvement with protective services).
(5) A judge or issuing authority for use in determining bail, provided that such inspection is limited to orders of delinquency adjudications and dispositions and petitions relating thereto, orders resulting from disposition review hearings and histories of bench warrants and escapes.
(6) The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts.
(6.1) The judges, officers and professional staff of courts of other jurisdictions when necessary for the discharge of their official duties.
(6.2) Officials of the Department of Corrections or a State Correctional Institution or other penal institution to which an individual who was previously adjudicated delinquent in a proceeding under this chapter has been committed, but the persons in this category shall not be permitted to see reports revealing the names of confidential sources of information contained in social reports, except at the discretion of the court.
(6.3) A parole board, court or county probation official in considering an individual's parole or in exercising supervision over any individual who was previously adjudicated delinquent in a proceeding under this chapter, but the persons in this category shall not be permitted to see reports revealing the names of confidential sources of information contained in social reports, except at the discretion of the court.
(6.4) The board for use in completing assessments.
(6.5) The Department of Human Services for use in determining whether an individual named as the perpetrator of an indicated report of child abuse should be expunged from the Statewide database.
(7) With leave of court, any other person or agency or institution having a legitimate interest in the proceedings or in the work of the unified judicial system.
(b) Public availability.--
(1) (Deleted by amendment).
(1.1) The contents of court records and files concerning a child shall not be disclosed to the public unless any of the following apply:
(i) The child has been adjudicated delinquent by a court as a result of an act or acts committed when the child was 14 years of age or older and the conduct would have constituted one or more of the following offenses if committed by an adult:
(A) Murder.
(B) Voluntary manslaughter.
(C) Aggravated assault as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702(a)(1) or (2) (relating to aggravated assault).
(D) Sexual Assault as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3124.1 (relating to sexual assault).
(E) Aggravated indecent assault as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3125 (relating to aggravated indecent assault).
(F) Arson as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3301(a)(1) (relating to arson and related offenses).
(G) Burglary as a felony in the first degree as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3502(c)(1) (relating to burglary).
(H) Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.
(I) Kidnapping.
(J) Rape.
(K) Robbery as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701(a)(1)(i), (ii) or (iii) (relating to robbery).
(L) Robbery of motor vehicle.
(M) Violation of 18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 61 (relating to firearms and other dangerous articles).
(N) Attempt or conspiracy to commit any of the offenses in this subparagraph.
(ii) A petition alleging delinquency has been filed alleging that the child has committed an act or acts subject to a hearing pursuant to section 6336(e) (relating to conduct of hearings) and the child previously has been adjudicated delinquent by a court as a result of an act or acts committed when the child was 14 years of age or older and the conduct would have constituted one or more of the following offenses if committed by an adult:
(A) Murder.
(B) Voluntary manslaughter.
(C) Aggravated assault as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702(a)(1) or (2).
(D) Sexual Assault as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3124.1.
(E) Aggravated indecent assault as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3125.
(F) Arson as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3301(a)(1).
(G) Burglary as a felony in the first degree as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3502(c)(1).
(H) Involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.
(I) Kidnapping.
(J) Rape.
(K) Robbery as defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 3701(a)(1)(i), (ii) or (iii).
(L) Robbery of motor vehicle.
(M) Violation of 18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 61.
(N) Attempt or conspiracy to commit any of the offenses in this subparagraph.
(2) If the conduct of the child meets the requirements for disclosure as set forth in paragraph (1.1), then the court shall disclose the name, age and address of the child, the offenses charged and the disposition of the case. The judge who adjudicates a child delinquent shall specify the particular offenses and counts thereof which the child is found to have committed, and such information shall be inserted on any court or law enforcement records or files disclosed to the public as provided for in this section or in section 6308(b)(2) (relating to law enforcement records).
(c) Summary offenses.--
The provisions of this section shall apply to proceedings involving a child charged with a summary offense when the proceedings are before a judge of the minor judiciary, the Philadelphia Municipal Court or a court of common pleas.
(Feb. 22, 1995, 1st Sp.Sess., P.L.959, No.1, eff. imd.; Dec. 20, 2000, P.L.946, No.129, eff. 60 days; Dec. 9, 2002, P.L.1705, No.215, eff. 60 days; Aug. 14, 2003, P.L.97, No.21, eff. 180 days; July 7, 2006, P.L.378, No.81, eff. 7 days; Oct. 25, 2012, P.L.1655, No.204, eff. 90 days; Dec. 18, 2013, P.L.1167, No.107, eff. Jan. 1, 2014; Sept. 27, 2014, P.L.2482, No.138, eff. 60 days; June 28, 2018, P.L.402, No.56, eff. 365 days; June 30, 2021, P.L.260, No.59, eff. imd.)
2021 Amendment.
Act 59 amended subsec. (a)(6.5).
2018 Amendment.
Act 56 amended subsec. (b). See the Preamble to Act 56 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to findings and declarations.
2014 Amendment.
Act 138 amended subsec. (c).
2013 Amendment
.
Act 107 added subsec. (a)(4.1) and (6.5). See section 6 of Act 107 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to applicability.
2006 Amendment.
Section 5 of Act 81 provided that Act 81 shall apply to all actions instituted on or after the effective date of Act 81.
Cross References.
Section 6307 is referred to in sections 6303, 6336.1 of this title.