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Request for Disclosure of Juvenile Case File

A Request for Disclosure of Juvenile Case File is a request asking the court for permission to access or obtain copies of records from a juvenile court case file. Juvenile case files are confidential, and certain individuals or agencies must receive court approval before records can be released. The court reviews the request and determines whether disclosure is allowed under the law.

Process

Learn how to request access to a juvenile case file by completing the required forms and submitting your request to the court. This page provides information about the process, eligibility requirements, and steps for requesting the disclosure of juvenile court records.

Filing Fee: There is no fee to file these forms.

You will fill out the following forms to start your request:

1. Form JV-570 –Petition for Access to Juvenile Delinquency Case File or a Living Child's Juvenile Dependency Case File

  • Fill in sections 1, 2 and 3.
  • Check the appropriate box for section 4 if you know.
  • In section 5, explain exactly what records you are requesting.
  • In section 6, fill in the information about the case you need the records for.
  • In section 7, explain in detail why you are requesting the records and why they are relevant or necessary for the hearing or purpose for which you need them.
  • At the bottom of the page, write the date, print your name, and sign.

2.  Form JV-571 – Notice of Petition for Access to Juvenile Delinquency Case File or a Living Child's Juvenile Dependency Case File

  • Complete the ‘TO (names)’ section - list all of the individuals who must receive a copy of the notice (see below under “Serving Your forms”)
  • In section 1, write the child’s name.
  • In section 2, write your name.
  • At the bottom of the page, write the date, print your name, and sign.

3. Form JV-573 – Order on Petition for Access to Juvenile Delinquency Case File or a Living Child's Juvenile Dependency Case File

  • Write the child’s name, date of birth, and the case number.

4. Form JV-574 – Order After Judicial Review on Petition for Access to Juvenile Delinquency Case File or a Living Child's Juvenile Dependency Case File

  • Write your name in section 1
  • Write in the child’s name, date of birth and the case number.

Make 2 copies of each of your completed forms. Keep the original to file with the court clerk and one copy for your own records. You will serve the other copy on the people or agencies who must be informed about the request. You can make more copies from this copy so that you have enough to mail to everyone on the list.
Serve copies of the following forms by mail (“Service” means someone 18 or older, not involved in the case, will mail the following forms to everyone who must be told about your request):

  • JV-570 –Petition for Access to Juvenile Delinquency Case File or a Living Child's Juvenile Dependency Case File
  • JV-571 – Notice of Petition for Access to Juvenile Delinquency Case File or a Living Child's Juvenile Dependency Case File
  • JV-572 - Objection to Release of Juvenile Delinquency Case File or a Living Child's Juvenile Dependency Case File (blank)

Each of the following people/agencies must be served:

  • Office of County Counsel Attn: Protective Custody Unit 2900 W. Burrell Ave Visalia, CA 93291
  • Child Welfare Services Attn: Court Unit 11200 Avenue 368, Room 209 Visalia, CA 93291
  • Office of the District Attorney 11200 Avenue 368, Room 101 Visalia, CA 93291
  • Tulare County Probation Department 11200 Avenue 368, Room 102 Visalia, CA 93291
  • The child and child’s attorney of record
  • The parents or guardian of the child if the child is under 18 years of age
  • Indian child’s tribe
  • The child’s CASA volunteer

The person who mails these forms for you must complete and sign the following: 

Take the originals and one (1) copy of each of the following forms to the clerk at the Juvenile Division of the court at 11200 Avenue 368, Visalia, CA 93291.

  • JV-570 –Petition for Access to Juvenile Delinquency Case File or a Living Child's Juvenile Dependency Case File
  • JV-571 – Notice of Petition for Access to Juvenile Delinquency Case File or a Living Child's Juvenile Dependency Case File
  • JV-573 – Order on Petition for Access to Juvenile Delinquency Case File or a Living Child's Juvenile Dependency Case File
  • Form JV-574 – Order After Judicial Review on Petition for Access to Juvenile Delinquency Case File or a Living Child's Juvenile Dependency Case File
  • JV-569 Proof of Service—Petition for Access to Juvenile Delinquency Case File or a Living Child's Juvenile Dependency Case File 

When you file the Proof of Service, the court will know that the parties who were required to receive notice were all notified of the request in a legally correct way. If any of these parties does not file an objection, the court will know that it was not because they did not know about the request.

The Clerk will stamp the originals and keep them for the court file and will lodge (keep in the file) the orders for the judge to sign. The court will give you back your copies of the Request, Notice, and Proof of Service. These copies are for you to keep for your records.

The court clerk will give your documents to the judge, who will carefully review and consider your request. The judge may grant, deny, or set your request for hearing. If the court sets a hearing, the court clerk will send a notice to you and all parties telling you the date, time and courtroom where you should come to discuss your request. If the court sets a hearing, you can bring the Proof of Service to show the judge in case the original is not in the file.