Opinion ID: 1104480
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: was the trial court in error in admitting testimony of mississippi welfare department employees?

Text: At the trial, Velda Roberts, a Lauderdale County Welfare Department employee, gave testimony regarding an interview with the appellants conducted on April 12, 1982 during the course of her employment. Jane Tanner, a Jackson County Welfare Department employee, gave testimony regarding her observations while visiting the Cardwell home during the course of her employment. Appellants assign as error the admission of this testimony without the proper predicate required by the Mississippi Youth Court Act. Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-257 provides: (1) Unless otherwise provided in this section, any record involving children, including valid and invalid complaints, and the contents thereof maintained by the department of public welfare, the department of youth services, or any other state agency shall be kept confidential and shall not be disclosed except as provided in section 43-21-261. Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-261 provides: (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, records involving children shall not be disclosed, other than to necessary staff of the youth court, except pursuant to an order of the youth court specifying the person or persons to whom the records may be disclosed, the extent of the records which may be disclosed and the purpose of the disclosure... . The objection to the Welfare worker's testimony was based on the fact that the worker had information obtained from Welfare Agency records which were confidential. Under the Act, records could be used in another court proceeding only with permission of the Youth Court under Miss. Code Ann. § 43-21-261. However, this record reflects no Youth Court proceeding for child neglect or abuse prior to this incident. The testimony did reflect complaints were made to the Welfare workers, but there is no indication that the complaint resulted in a Youth Court case. The trial court was of the opinion that the confidentiality provision was enacted for the benefit of the child and that the child's parents charged with his death had no standing to object to the introduction of this testimony. This Court concludes that no tangible Youth Court record was introduced. Also, the testimony of the Welfare workers did not evidence any information obtained by them from a youth court record. Their testimony addressed their personal observations and experiences. Therefore, this Court concludes no reversible error was made in permitting their testimony. The content of their testimony will be addressed further in the next assignment of error.