Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 5153.17 (2026)

Maintenance of records

✓ current as of May 2026
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(A) Each public children services agency shall prepare and keep written records of all of the following:

(1) Investigations of families, children, and foster homes;

(2) The care, training, and treatment afforded to children;

(3) Such other records as are required by the department of children and youth.

(B) Records under division (A) of this section shall be confidential, but, except as provided by division (B) of section 3107.17 of the Revised Code, shall be open to inspection by the following:

(1) The agency, the director of children and youth, and the director of the county department of job and family services, and by other persons upon the written permission of the executive director;

(2) Upon request to an agency and subject to division (C) of this section, an adult who was formerly placed in foster care.

(C)(1) With regard to an adult under division (B)(2) of this section, records subject to inspection include those pertaining to the adult's time placed in foster care. Records may include medical, mental health, school, and legal records and a comprehensive summary of reasons why the adult was placed in foster care.

(2) The executive director or the director's designee may redact information that is specific to other individuals if that information does not directly pertain to the requesting adult's records that are subject to inspection under division (C)(1) of this section or the comprehensive summary of reasons why the adult was placed in foster care.

Last updated January 1, 2025 at 5:32 AM

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 46 cases (18 in the last 5 years), 1985–2025 · leading case: Johnson v. Johnson, 731 N.E.2d 1144 (Ohio Ct. App. 1999).
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Johnson v. Johnson, 731 N.E.2d 1144 (Ohio Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 9× “For example, R.C. 5153.17 states: “The public children services agency shall prepare and keep written records of investigations of families, children, and foster homes, and of the care, training, and treatment afforded children, and shall prepare and keep such other records as…”
State v. S.R., 589 N.E.2d 1319 (Ohio 1992). · cites it 3× “52 to CSB investigatory records because there already exist stringent confidentiality provisions for child abuse investigation records pursuant to R.C. 5153.17, 2151.421(H)(1), and Ohio Adm.”
State ex rel. Renfro v. Cuyahoga Cnty. Dep't of Human Servs., 560 N.E.2d 230 (Ohio 1990). · cites it 6× “Based on the foregoing, respondent’s investigation report is entirely exempt from the disclosure required by R.”
Swartzentruber v. Orrville Grace Brethren Church, 836 N.E.2d 619 (Ohio Ct. App. 2005). · cites it 2× “Second Assignment of Error The trial court erred in overruling defendants’ motion for protective order and compelling defendants to divulge the contents of documents protected from disclosure by R.C. 5153.17. Third Assignment of Error The trial court erred in overruling…”
In re C.A., 2015 Ohio 4768 (Ohio Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 3× “{¶78} The CCDCFS records at issue are confidential under R.C. 5153.17 and 2151.421(H)(1). However, this confidentiality is not absolute.”
State v. C.D.S., 2021 Ohio 4492 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 2× “Appellant's Sixth Assignment of Error {¶ 81} In appellant's sixth assignment of error, he contends that the trial court erred in excluding subpoenaed case records regarding G.”
State v. Branch, 2013 Ohio 3192 (Ohio Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 3× “1-12-44 to the defendant and material to either guilt or punishment.”
State v. Ruggles, 2020 Ohio 2886 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). “3d 83 , 2015- Ohio-3425, ¶ 24 (confidentiality of a public children services agency's records under R.C. 5153.17 is not absolute). - 11 - Warren CA2019-05-038 CA2019-05-044 CA2019-05-045 CA2019-05-046 the Clark County court's in camera interview records that the basis for the…”
Sharpe v. Sharpe, 620 N.E.2d 916 (Ohio Ct. App. 1993). · cites it 3× “R.C. 5153.17 states: “The county children services board or county department of human services shall prepare and keep written records of investigations of families, children, and foster homes, and of the care, training, and treatment afforded children, and shall prepare and…”
State ex rel. Dispatch Printing Co. v. Solove, 17 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 2241 (Ohio 1990). “18(B) and (C) (those juvenile court records which are open to the public shall not include the identity of any party to a case); R.C. 5153.17 (records of investigations by public children’s services agencies on abused, neglected, and dependent children are confidential); Gault,…”
Davis v. Trumbull Cnty. Child. Servs. Bd., 493 N.E.2d 1011 (Ohio Ct. App. 1985). · cites it 2× “Appellee made an oral motion to quash contending that under R.C. 5153.17 and Section 205.50, Title 45, C.”
State v. Green, 2023 Ohio 4360 (Ohio Ct. App. 2023). “9-22-13 records or reports where (1) the records or reports are relevant to the pending action, (2) good cause for such a request has been established by the person seeking disclosure, and (3) where admission of the records or reports outweighs the confidentiality considerations…”
Show all 46 citing cases →
— Ohio Rev. Code § 5153.17(A) — 3 cases
State ex rel. Baker v. Treglia, 2025 Ohio 2816 (Ohio 2025).
Daniel v. Cuyahoga Cty. Div. of Child. & Fam. Servs., 2025 Ohio 5266 (Ohio Ct. Cl. 2025).
Greenwald v. United States (S.D. Ohio 2024).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 5153.17(A)(1) — 1 case
State ex rel. Baker v. Treglia, 2025 Ohio 2816 (Ohio 2025).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 5153.17(B) — 3 cases
Erie Cty. Dept. of Job & Fam. Servs. v. Ray, 2025 Ohio 2327 (Ohio Ct. App. 2025).
State ex rel. Baker v. Treglia, 2025 Ohio 2816 (Ohio 2025).
Daniel v. Cuyahoga Cty. Div. of Child. & Fam. Servs., 2025 Ohio 5266 (Ohio Ct. Cl. 2025).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 5153.17(B)(2) — 1 case
Daniel v. Cuyahoga Cty. Div. of Child. & Fam. Servs., 2025 Ohio 5266 (Ohio Ct. Cl. 2025).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 5153.17(C) — 1 case
Daniel v. Cuyahoga Cty. Div. of Child. & Fam. Servs., 2025 Ohio 5266 (Ohio Ct. Cl. 2025).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 5153.17(C)(1) — 1 case
Daniel v. Cuyahoga Cty. Div. of Child. & Fam. Servs., 2025 Ohio 5266 (Ohio Ct. Cl. 2025).
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