Art. 904 Court transmission of reports

When a child gets placed in the custody of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, or sent to a public or private institution or agency, the court has a job to do. The court must send along all the important reports about the child at the same time it sends the judgment that decides the child's placement.

This means the agency or institution taking custody of the child does not just get a court order telling them what to do. They also get the background information the court used to make its decision. This can include things like evaluations, history, or other records that help explain the child's situation.

The point of this rule is to make sure the people who will be caring for or supervising the child have the full picture. Without these reports, the agency or institution would only know the court's final decision, not the reasons or details behind it. Sending the reports along with the judgment helps the new caregivers understand the child's needs and make better decisions going forward.