{"data":{"id":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-21-21-843.7","jurisdiction":"us-ok","citation":"Okla. Stat. tit. 21, § 21-843.7","heading":"Appointment of representatives for child","body":"A. 1. In every criminal case filed pursuant to the Oklahoma\n\nChild Abuse Reporting and Prevention Act, the judge of the district\n\ncourt may appoint an attorney-at-law to appear for and represent a\n\nchild who is the alleged victim of child abuse or neglect.\n\n2. The attorney may be allowed a reasonable fee for such\n\nservices and shall meet with the child as soon as possible after\n\nreceiving notification of the appointment.\n\n3. Except for good cause shown to the court, the attorney shall\n\nmeet with the child not less than twenty-four (24) hours prior to\n\nany hearing.\n\n4. The attorney shall be given access to all reports relevant\n\nto the case and to any reports of examination of the child's\n\nparents, legal guardian, custodian or other person responsible for\n\nthe child’s health or safety made pursuant to this section.\n\n5. The attorney shall represent the child and any expressed\n\ninterests of the child. To that end, the attorney shall make such\n\nfurther investigation as the attorney deems necessary to ascertain\n\nthe facts, to interview witnesses, examine and cross-examine\n\nwitnesses at the preliminary hearing and trial, make recommendations\n\nto the court, and participate further in the proceedings to the\n\ndegree appropriate for adequately representing the child.\n\nB. A court-appointed special advocate or guardian ad litem as\n\ndefined by the Oklahoma Children's Code and the Oklahoma Juvenile\n\nCode may be appointed to represent the best interests of the child\n\nwho is the alleged subject of child abuse or neglect. The court-\n\nappointed special advocate or guardian ad litem shall be given\n\naccess to all reports relevant to the case and to reports of service\n\nproviders and of examination of the child's parents, legal guardian,\n\ncustodian or other person responsible for the child’s health or\n\nsafety made pursuant to this section including but not limited to,\n\ninformation authorized by the Oklahoma Children’s Code and the\n\nOklahoma Juvenile Code.\n\nC. At such time as the information maintained by the statewide\n\nregistry for child abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect is indexed by\n\nname of perpetrator and the necessary and appropriate due process\n\nprocedures are established by the Department of Human Services, a\n\ncourt-appointed special advocate organization, in accordance with\n\nthe policies and rules of the Department, may utilize the registry\n\nfor the purpose of completing background screenings of volunteers\n\nwith the organization.","path":["OK Code","Title 21"],"source_url":"https://www.oklegislature.gov/OK_Statutes/CompleteTitles/os21.pdf","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:36Z","sha256":"23878f06b63c5ae0205bdbd8de766f9e47a05b384badb12fbe8369b4a50064fb","source_id":"us-ok","stale":false,"prev":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-21-21-843.6","next":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-21-21-844"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}