{"data":{"id":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-10a-10a-1-4-503","jurisdiction":"us-ok","citation":"Okla. Stat. tit. 10A, § 10A-1-4-503","heading":"Conduct of hearings","body":"A. All cases initiated by the filing of a petition alleging\n\nthat a child is deprived shall be heard separately from the trial of\n\nother cases against adults. The adjudicative hearings and hearings\n\nfor termination of parental rights shall be conducted according to\n\nthe rules of evidence. All other hearings and proceedings conducted\n\npursuant to the Oklahoma Children’s Code shall be informal and the\n\nrules of evidence shall not apply.\n\n1. a. Except as otherwise provided by this paragraph, all\n\ndeprived proceedings shall be private unless\n\nspecifically ordered by the judge to be conducted in\n\npublic, but persons having a direct interest in the\n\ncase shall be admitted, except as otherwise determined\n\nby the court.\n\nb. To the extent that deprived proceedings involve\n\ndiscussion of confidential information from any child\n\nabuse or neglect report and record, or any information\n\nobtained from the Department of Human Services\n\nconcerning a child or family who is receiving Title\n\nIV-B child welfare services, foster care or adoption\n\nassistance pursuant to Title IV-E of the Social\n\nSecurity Act (42 U.S.C. 678 et seq.), the\n\nconfidentiality requirements of those programs apply.\n\nAccordingly, such information shall not be discussed\n\nin open court. To the extent that confidential\n\ninformation is relevant to the proceedings, it must be\n\ndiscussed in the court’s chambers or some other\n\nrestricted setting, and the pertinent sections of the\n\ntranscript shall be kept confidential.\n\n2. Stenographic notes or other transcript of the hearings shall\n\nbe kept as in other cases, but they shall not be open to inspection\n\nexcept by order of the court or as otherwise provided by law.\n\n3. Uniform orders shall be used by the court in all deprived\n\nproceedings. The forms shall be prescribed and published by the\n\nAdministrative Office of the Courts. The Supreme Court Juvenile\n\nJustice Oversight and Advisory Committee, the District Attorneys\n\nCouncil, and the Department shall assist in the development of the\n\norders. In addition to the findings and determinations required to\n\nbe made by the court pursuant to the Oklahoma Children’s Code, the\n\nforms shall include a section which will require the court to\n\nmemorialize the recommendations of the parties and participants made\n\nat the hearing as it relates to custody or placement of the child or\n\nchildren.\n\n4. If authorized by the court, any proceeding held pursuant to\n\nthe Oklahoma Children’s Code may be conducted via teleconference\n\ncommunication; provided, that when a parent or child appears for a\n\nproceeding via teleconference communication, the attorney\n\nrepresenting that parent or child shall personally appear at the\n\nhearing. For purposes of this paragraph, “teleconference\n\ncommunication” means participation in the hearing by interactive\n\ntelecommunication, including telephonic communication by the absent\n\nparty, those parties present in court, the attorneys and others\n\ndeemed to be necessary participants to the proceeding including, but\n\nnot limited to, foster parents and facility staff where a child may\n\nbe receiving care or treatment. This paragraph shall also apply to\n\nproceedings brought pursuant to the Inpatient Mental Health and\n\nSubstance Abuse Treatment of Minors Act when the subject child is\n\nalleged or has been adjudicated to be a deprived child.\n\nB. A child shall not refuse to be a witness in a hearing to\n\ndetermine whether or not the child is deprived. The testimony of\n\nthe child may be given as provided by this part or as otherwise\n\nauthorized by law for the protection of child witnesses.\n\nC. A decision determining a child to be deprived must be based\n\non sworn testimony and the child must have the opportunity for\n\ncross-examination unless the facts are stipulated.","path":["OK Code","Title 10A"],"source_url":"https://www.oklegislature.gov/OK_Statutes/CompleteTitles/os10A.pdf","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:36Z","sha256":"13d8382dfcce891fa5129303c94d8f05826edbf94a3411900a747424ca438bc0","source_id":"us-ok","stale":false,"prev":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-10a-10a-1-4-502","next":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-10a-10a-1-4-504"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}