Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Current as of March 28, 2024 | Updated by FindLaw Staff
(a) Notwithstanding Code Section 49-5-40, all reports, files, and records of child controlled substance or marijuana abuse shall be open to inspection only upon order of the juvenile court. As used in this Code section, the term “juvenile court” means the court exercising jurisdiction over juvenile matters, as defined under Code Section 15-11-2, in the county where the report was made.
(b) The juvenile court may permit authorized representatives of recognized organizations compiling statistics for proper purposes to inspect and make abstracts from official records under whatever conditions upon their use and distribution the judge may deem proper and may punish by contempt any violation of those conditions. The judge shall permit authorized representatives of the Department of Human Services and the Council of Juvenile Court Judges to inspect and extract data from child controlled substance and marijuana abuse records for the purpose of obtaining statistics on juveniles and to make copies pursuant to the order of the court.
(c) In no case shall records of child controlled substance or marijuana abuse be retained by the Department of Human Services beyond the 24 months from the date a report is first received pursuant to Code Section 19-7-6 by a child welfare agency providing protective services.
(d) On application of a person who is the subject of a child controlled substance or marijuana abuse report, and after a hearing, the juvenile court may order the sealing of such reports, files, and records of the Department of Human Services. Upon entry of the order, the Department of Human Services shall treat the report and related information as if the report had never occurred. All index references shall be deleted and the person, the court, and the Department of Human Services shall properly reply that no record exists with respect to the person upon inquiry in any matter. Inspection of the sealed files and records thereafter may be permitted by an order of the juvenile court upon petition by the person who is the subject of the records and only by those persons named in the order.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Georgia Code Title 49. Social Services § 49-5-41.1 - last updated March 28, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ga/title-49-social-services/ga-code-sect-49-5-41-1/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature or via Westlaw before relying on it for your legal needs.
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)