Accessing your child’s juvenile records

Accessing your child’s juvenile records

Q: I am trying to obtain cps records of my juvenile son, I was told by CPS that I would need an attorney to obtain any records; do I have a right to my son’s records?

A: It sounds like the information you were provided by CPS is inaccurate. Under CA law, the “parent or guardian” of a minor is entitled to review CPS records about that minor:

“Except as provided in section 828 [relating to disclosure to law enforcement agencies], … all … documents filed in any [juvenile court] case … may be inspected only be court personnel, the district attorney, the MINOR who is the subject of the proceeding, HIS OR HER PARENTS OR GUARDIANS, the attorneys for the parties … and such other persons as may be designated by court order of the jduge of the juvenile court upon filing of a petition therefore.”

California Welfare & Institutions Code section 827. Thus if the CPS records you want to review were either filed in a juvenile court proceeding, or were “made available” to a probation officer, judge, or hearing officer, you have a right to inspect them.