The files and records of the court in any proceeding had under this Article shall be kept in a separate locked file and shall be withheld from public inspection. Such files and records may, pursuant to rule of court or special order of the court, be opened for inspection by persons and agencies having a legitimate interest in the case and their attorneys and by other persons and agencies having a legitimate interest in the protection, welfare or treatment of the child or in research studies. As used in this Section, the words files and records include the court docket and entries therein, the petitions and other papers filed in any case, transcripts of testimony taken by the court, and findings, orders and decrees, and other writings filed in proceedings before the court, other than social records.

Social records shall be withheld from public inspection except that information from such records may be furnished to persons and agencies having a legitimate interest in the protection, welfare and treatment of the child or in research studies, in such manner as the court determines. As used in this Section, the words social records include the social service records of the court, the social studies and reports of the court, the social studies and

COL 6/21/2023

19 Guam Code Ann. PERSONAL RELATIONS
CH. 4 PARENT AND CHILD

reports referred to in § 4210, and related papers, and correspondence, including medical, psychological and psychiatric studies and reports, either in the possession of the court or the Division.

No person shall be entitled to make copies of such files and records or social records or parts thereof unless the court so orders.

It shall be unlawful, except for purposes for which files and records or social records or part thereof or information therefrom have been released pursuant to this Section, or except for purposes permitted by special order of the court, and in accordance with any applicable rules of the court, for any person to disclose, receive or make use of, or authorize, knowingly permit, participate in or acquiesce in the use of any information concerning any person before the court directly or indirectly derived from the files and records or communications of the court, or social records, or acquired in the course of the performance of official duties.

Any person who shall disclose information in violation of the provisions of this Section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or imprisoned for a period not to exceed six (6) months, or both.

SOURCE: CC § 221.17 enacted by P.L. 13-133:1 (Feb. 3, 1976).