Native American Rights Fund, A Practical Guide to the Indian Child Welfare Act, New Mexico Statutes

N.M. Stat. § 32A-2-32

New Mexico Statutes

Chapter 32A. Children's Code

Article 2. Delinquency Act


§ 32A-2-32. Confidentiality; records


A. All social records pertaining to the child, including all related diagnostic evaluations, psychiatric reports, medical reports, social studies reports, records from local detention facilities, client-identifying records from facilities for the care and rehabilitation of delinquent children, pre-parole reports and supervision histories obtained by the juvenile probation office, parole officers and parole board or in possession of the department, are confidential and shall not be disclosed directly or indirectly to the public.


B. The records described in Subsection A of this section shall be disclosed only to:


(1) court personnel;


(2) court appointed special advocates;


(3) the child's attorney or guardian ad litem;


(4) department personnel;


(5) any local substitute care review board or any agency contracted to implement local substitute care review boards;


(6) corrections department personnel;


(7) law enforcement officials;


(8) district attorneys;


(9) any state government social services agency in any state;


(10) those persons or entities of a child's Indian tribe specifically authorized to inspect such records pursuant to the federal Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 [FN1] or any regulations promulgated thereunder;


(11) tribal juvenile justice system and social service representatives;


(12) a foster parent, if the records are those of a child currently placed with that foster parent or of a child being considered for placement with that foster parent when the disclosure of the information is necessary for the child's treatment or care and shall include only that information necessary to provide for treatment and care of the child;


(13) school personnel involved with the child if the records concern the child's educational needs as necessary for the child's educational planning and shall include only that information necessary to provide for the child's educational needs;


(14) health care or mental health professionals involved in the evaluation or treatment of the child, the child's parents, guardians or custodian or other family members;


(15) representatives of the protection and advocacy system;


(16) the child's parent, guardian or legal custodian when the disclosure of the information is necessary for the child's treatment or care and shall include only that information necessary to provide for the treatment or care of the child; and


(17) any other person or entity, by order of the court, having a legitimate interest in the case or the work of the court.


C. Whoever intentionally and unlawfully releases any information or records closed to the public pursuant to this section or releases or makes other unlawful use of records in violation of this section is guilty of a petty misdemeanor.


D. The department shall promulgate rules for implementing disclosure of records pursuant to this section and in compliance with state and federal law and the Children's Court Rules.


L. 1993, Ch. 77, § 61; L. 2003, Ch. 225, § 15, eff. July 1, 2003; L. 2005, Ch. 189, § 24, eff. June 17, 2005.


[FN1] 25 U.S.C.A. § 1901 et seq.