North Dakota Century Code Title 12. Corrections, Parole, and Probation § 12-47-36. Records exempt--Confidential--Exceptions

1. The case history records of the department of corrections and rehabilitation or its divisions or departments relating to persons in the custody or under the supervision and management of the division of adult services of the department of corrections and rehabilitation are exempt records as defined in section 44-04-17.1.  Upon application to the district court, with service of the application on the department of corrections and rehabilitation and opportunity for the department to submit a written response, the court may order the inspection of a case history record unless there is a showing by the department of corrections and rehabilitation that a proper and legitimate reason exists for denying inspection of the case history record.  If the court issues an order allowing inspection, the court shall allow the department of corrections and rehabilitation to remove all identifying information that may create a risk of harm to property or to any person.  As used in this section, “case history record” means any record of a person in the custody or under the supervision and management of the division of adult services of the department of corrections and rehabilitation except for medical, psychological, and treatment records and legal files.  The term includes inmate disciplinary proceedings, administrative and disciplinary segregation placements, institutional and criminal investigation reports, supervision histories, job placements, education programs, inmate financial accounts under section 12-48-15, and protective management cases.

2. The medical, psychological, and treatment records of the department of corrections and rehabilitation or its divisions or departments relating to persons in the custody or under the supervision and management of the division of adult services of the department of corrections and rehabilitation are confidential, and may not be disclosed directly or indirectly to any person, organization, or agency, except as otherwise provided in this section.  A district court may order the inspection of medical, psychological, and treatment records, or parts of those records, upon application to the court and a showing that there is a proper and legitimate purpose for the inspection of the records, with service of the application on the department of corrections and rehabilitation and opportunity for the department of corrections and rehabilitation to submit a written response.

3. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law relating to privilege or confidentiality, except for the confidentiality requirements of federal drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation laws, the following persons, organizations, or agencies without prior application to the court may inspect case history, medical, psychological, or treatment records:

4. Records with respect to the person's identity, location, legal files except records under court seal, criminal convictions, or projected date of release, except for the records of a person who is under protective management, are open records.

5. Medical, psychological, or treatment records may be disclosed without prior application to the court to a public hospital or treatment facility, the department of human services, a community behavioral health program, a vocational rehabilitation program, a transitional living facility, or a licensed private medical or treatment facility, when necessary for the evaluation, treatment, or care of a person who is or who has been in the custody of, or is or who has been under the supervision and management of, the adult services division of the department of corrections and rehabilitation.

6. A criminal defendant's presentence investigation report, together with any attachment or addendum, is subject to rule 32 of the North Dakota Rules of Criminal Procedure and any amendments made thereto.

7. The parole board may permit the inspection of a person's preparole report, or parts of the report, prepared for the parole board.

8. Any person, organization, or agency receiving exempt or confidential records under this section shall maintain the closed or confidential nature of the records and may not redisclose the records.

9. The department of corrections and rehabilitation shall maintain the confidentiality of witness protection program records and legal files under seal.

10. The medical, psychological, and treatment records of the department relating to persons in the custody or under the supervision and management of the division of adult services of the department of corrections and rehabilitation may be disclosed for the purpose of conducting research and educational activities.  A person conducting research or educational activities may not redisclose identifying information received under this subsection.