Disclosure of Confidential Child Abuse and Neglect Records - Wyoming
Confidentiality of Records
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 14-3-214
All records concerning reports and investigations of child abuse or neglect are confidential.
Persons or Entities Allowed Access to Records
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 14-3-214
Applications for access to records concerning child abuse or neglect held by the State agency or local child protective agency shall be made in the manner and form prescribed by the State agency. Upon appropriate application, the State agency shall give access to any of the following persons or agencies:
- A local child protective agency
- A law enforcement agency, guardian ad litem, child protection team, or the attorney representing the subject of the report
- A physician or surgeon who is treating an abused or neglected child or the child's family and who reasonably suspects that a child may have been abused or neglected
- A person legally authorized to place a child in protective temporary custody when needed to determine whether to place the child in temporary protective custody
- A person responsible for the welfare of the child
- A court or grand jury when it is necessary for the determination of an issue
- Court personnel who are investigating reported incidents of child abuse or neglect
- An education or mental health professional serving the child when it is necessary to provide appropriate educational or therapeutic interventions
A physician or person in charge of an institution, school, facility, or agency making the report shall receive, upon written application to the State agency, a summary of the records concerning the subject of the report.
When Public Disclosure of Records is Allowed
This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed.
Use of Records for Employment Screening
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 14-3-214
Upon appropriate application, the State agency shall provide to any employer or entity whose employees or volunteers may have unsupervised access to children in the course of their employment or volunteer service, a summary of central registry records maintained under State agency rules since December 31, 1986, for purposes of screening employees or volunteers. The written results shall reveal whether there is a report 'under investigation,' a 'substantiated' finding of abuse or neglect on the central registry naming the individual or confirm that no record exists. When the individual is identified on the registry as a 'substantiated' perpetrator of abuse or neglect, the report to the applicant shall contain information with respect to the date of the finding, specific type of abuse or neglect, a copy of the perpetrator's voluntary statement, and whether an appeal is pending.
The applicant, or an agent on behalf of the applicant, shall submit a fee in an amount determined by rule of the State agency and proof satisfactory to the State agency that the prospective or current employee or volunteer whose records are being checked consents to the release of the information to the applicant. The applicant shall use the information received only for purposes of screening prospective or current employees and volunteers who may, through their employment or volunteer services, have unsupervised access to minors. Applicants, their employees, or other agents shall not otherwise divulge or make public any information received under this section. The State agency shall notify any applicant receiving information under this subsection of any subsequent reclassification of the information pursuant to § 14-3-213(e). The State agency shall screen all prospective agency employees in conformity with the procedure provided under this subsection.