Section 351.1. Probation, investigation and diagnostic assessment  


Latest version.
  • 1.
      Following a determination that a respondent has committed  a  designated
      felony act and prior to the dispositional hearing, the judge shall order
      a  probation investigation and a diagnostic assessment. For the purposes
      of this article, the probation investigation shall include, but  not  be
      limited  to, the history of the juvenile including previous conduct, the
      family situation, any previous psychological  and  psychiatric  reports,
      school  adjustment,  previous social assistance provided by voluntary or
      public agencies and the response of the juvenile to such assistance. For
      the purposes of this article, the diagnostic assessment  shall  include,
      but not be limited to, psychological tests and psychiatric interviews to
      determine  mental  capacity  and  achievement,  emotional  stability and
      mental disabilities. It shall  include  a  clinical  assessment  of  the
      situational  factors  that may have contributed to the act or acts. When
      feasible, expert opinion shall be rendered as to the risk  presented  by
      the  juvenile to others or himself, with a recommendation as to the need
      for a restrictive placement.
        2. Following a determination that a respondent committed a  crime  and
      prior  to  the  dispositional hearing, the court shall order a probation
      investigation and may order a diagnostic assessment.
        3. A child shall not be placed in accord with section 353.3 unless the
      court has ordered a probation investigation prior to  the  dispositional
      hearing; a child shall not be placed in accord with section 353.4 unless
      the court has ordered a diagnostic assessment prior to such hearing.
        4.  When  it  appears  that  such information would be relevant to the
      findings of the court or the order of  disposition,  each  investigation
      report  prepared  pursuant to this section shall contain a victim impact
      statement which shall include an analysis of the victim's version of the
      offense, the extent of injury or economic loss or damage to the  victim,
      including  the  amount of unreimbursed medical expenses, if any, and the
      views of the victim relating to  disposition  including  the  amount  of
      restitution  sought  by  the  victim,  subject  to  availability of such
      information. In the case of a homicide or where the victim is unable  to
      assist   in   the  preparation  of  the  victim  impact  statement,  the
      information may be acquired from the victim's family. Nothing  contained
      in  this section shall be interpreted to require that a victim or his or
      her family supply information for the preparation  of  an  investigation
      report  or  that the dispositional hearing should be delayed in order to
      obtain such information.
        5. (a) All diagnostic assessments and probation investigation  reports
      shall  be  submitted  to  the  court and made available by the court for
      inspection and copying by the presentment agency and the  respondent  at
      least  five  court  days  prior to the commencement of the dispositional
      hearing. All such reports shall be  made  available  by  the  court  for
      inspection  and  copying by the presentment agency and the respondent in
      connection with any appeal in the case.
        (b) The victim impact statement shall be made available to the  victim
      or the victim's family by the presentment agency prior to sentencing.
        6.  All  reports  or  memoranda  prepared or obtained by the probation
      service for the purpose of  a  dispositional  hearing  shall  be  deemed
      confidential  information furnished to the court and shall be subject to
      disclosure solely in  accordance  with  this  section  or  as  otherwise
      provided for by law. Except as provided under section 320.5 such reports
      or  memoranda  shall not be furnished to the court prior to the entry of
      an order pursuant to section 345.1.
        7. The probation services  which  prepare  the  investigation  reports
      shall  be  responsible  for the collection and transmission to the state
      division of probation and correctional  alternatives,  of  data  on  the
    
      number  of victim impact statements prepared, pursuant to regulations of
      the division. Such information shall be transmitted to the crime victims
      board and included in the board's annual report pursuant to  subdivision
      twenty of section six hundred twenty-three of the executive law.