New York Consolidated Laws, Executive Law - EXC § 501-c. Confidentiality

1. (a) Records or files of youths kept by the division for youth shall be deemed confidential and shall be safeguarded from coming to the knowledge of and from inspection or examination by any person other than one authorized to receive such knowledge or to make such inspection or examination:  (i) by the division pursuant to its regulations;  (ii) or by a judge of the court of claims when such records are required for the trial of a claim or other proceeding in such court;  or (iii) by a federal court judge or magistrate, a justice of the supreme court, a judge of the county court or family court, or a grand jury when such records are required for a trial or proceeding in such court or grand jury.  No person shall divulge the information thus obtained without authorization to do so by the division, or by such justice, judge or grand jury.

(b) The division shall not release information which would reasonably identify such youth as ever being in the custody of the division, except as provided in paragraph (a) of this subdivision.

(c) Nothing in this subdivision shall limit a person's or agency's responsibility or authority to report suspected child abuse or maltreatment pursuant to title six of article six of the social services law.

(d) Nothing in this subdivision shall be deemed to prevent access by a parent or legal guardian of a youth to records or files of such youth where access is otherwise specifically authorized by law.