2015 Oregon Revised Statutes
Volume : 10 - Highways, Military, Juvenile Code, Human Services
Chapter 419B - Juvenile Code: Dependency
Section 419B.881 - Disclosure; scope; when required; exceptions; breach of duty to disclose.

(1) In all proceedings brought under ORS 419B.100 or 419B.500, each party, including the state, shall disclose to each other party and to a guardian ad litem appointed under ORS 419B.231 the following information and material within the possession or under the control of the party:

(a) The names and addresses of all persons the party intends to call as witnesses at any stage of the hearing, together with any relevant written or recorded statements or memoranda of any oral statements of such persons;

(b) Any written or recorded statements or memoranda of any oral statements made either by the parent or by the child to any other party or agent for any other party;

(c) Any reports or statements of experts who will be called as witnesses, including the results of any physical or mental examinations and of comparisons or experiments that the party intends to offer in evidence at the hearing; and

(d) Any books, papers, documents or photographs that the party intends to offer in evidence at the hearing, or that were obtained from or belong to any other party.

(2)(a) Disclosure under subsection (1) of this section must be made as soon as practicable following the filing of a petition and no later than:

(A) Thirty days after a petition alleging jurisdiction has been filed.

(B) Three days before any review hearing, except for information received or discovered less than three days prior to the hearing.

(C) Ten days before a permanency hearing or a termination trial, except for information received or discovered less than 10 days prior to the hearing or trial.

(b) The court may supervise the exercise of discovery to the extent necessary to insure that it proceeds properly and expeditiously.

(3)(a) When a ward has been placed in the legal custody of the Department of Human Services for care, placement and supervision under ORS 419B.337, the department shall disclose to all parties the case plan developed under ORS 419B.343, modifications to the case plan and any written material or information about services provided to the ward, or to the ward’s parent or parents, under the case plan.

(b) Disclosure under this subsection must be made within 10 days of:

(A) Completion or modification of the case plan; and

(B) Receipt by the department of the written material or information about services provided under the case plan.

(4) The obligation to disclose is an ongoing obligation and if a party finds, either before or during the hearing, additional material or information that is subject to disclosure, the information or material shall be promptly disclosed.

(5) The following material and information need not be disclosed:

(a) Attorney work product; and

(b) Transcripts, recordings or memoranda of testimony of witnesses before the grand jury, except transcripts or recordings of testimony of a party to the current juvenile court proceeding.

(6) Upon a showing of good cause, the court may at any time order that specified disclosure be denied, restricted or deferred or make such other order as is appropriate.

(7) Upon request of a party, the court may permit a showing of good cause for denial or regulation of disclosure by the parties or the contents of subpoenaed materials, or portion of the showing, to be made in camera. A record shall be made of the proceeding.

(8) If the court enters an order following an in camera showing, the entire record of the showing shall be sealed and preserved in the records of the court, to be made available to the appellate court in the event of an appeal. The trial court may, after disposition, unseal the record.

(9) When some parts of certain material are subject to disclosure and other parts are not, as much of the material as is subject to disclosure shall be disclosed.

(10) Upon being notified of any breach of a duty to disclose material or information, the court may:

(a) Order the violating party to permit inspection of the material;

(b) Grant a continuance;

(c) Refuse to permit the witness to testify;

(d) Refuse to receive in evidence the material that was not disclosed; or

(e) Enter such other order as the court considers appropriate. [Formerly 419B.300; 2005 c.450 §9; 2013 c.439 §1]

Note: Section 6, chapter 439, Oregon Laws 2013, provides:

Sec. 6. The amendments to ORS 419A.255 and 419B.881 by sections 1 and 7 of this 2013 Act apply to dependency proceedings commenced or pending before, on or after the effective date of this 2013 Act [January 1, 2014].

[2013 c.439 §6; 2013 c.439 §10]