Truancy Court Of Randolph County

Purpose

• Truancy Court was created as a bridge between the judicial system and the school system to promote attendance, diminish delinquency, and promote educational success.

Objectives

• Improve school attendance• Improve academic performance• Increase parental supervision and

monitoring of youth activities• Decrease in-school and out-of-school

suspension for behavior through the parenting component

• Integrate existing support services to wrap around students and their families

Referrals Include

• Students aged 6 to 15 ½ years of age who are not compliant with the School Attendance Law (NC G.S. 115C-378)

Why• Youth are not successful in

school are at risk of involvement in crime and violence

• They are under supervised and subject to negative influences

• Data suggests that level of education is correlated with success throughout many facets of one’s life

• There are Accountability issues for Public Education (No Child Left Behind)

• Attendance is the Law.

When and Where

• Truancy Court is held for a half day once or twice a month at the Randolph County Courthouse.

A Model of an Existing Pre-Court Referral Process

• Letters of notification to parents when the student has 3, 6, and 10 days of unexcused absences

• School Social Worker contacts family and works with student and family to address needs and improve attendance

• Principal and social worker determine the student is out of compliance with attendance laws, letter is sent to D.A.’s office and DSS with a copy going to parent.

• Parents are invited to discuss situation with school administrators at any time.

Juvenile Process

• Truancy Coordinator creates a court file including interventions, results from needs assessment, recommendations addressing attendance, behavioral, and academic aspects

• Coordinator facilitates additional interventions and/or files juvenile complaint

• DJJDP Counselor makes final decision for legal intervention involving juveniles.

Criminal Process

• File created by Truancy Coordinator also addresses family environment and results of interactions with parents/guardians. Recommendations offered to assist family in being compliant with attendance laws.

• Coordinator facilitates additional interventions or directs social workers to file criminal summons for truancy

• Criminal Summons are served by Randolph County Law Enforcement Officers

Court

• Consultations are held by coordinator with School Social Worker to discuss recommendations in preparation for court

• Parents and students attend same court

• District Attorney, Bailiff, and Public Defenders and/or Private Counsel are present in court and Judge hears testimony and adjudicates student, parent, or both

The Family

• An assessment of the entire family is initiated to evaluate truancy predictors.

• Court interventions are specific to the needs of each individual family member.

Monitoring

• Truancy Coordinator, Juvenile Court Counselor, and School Social Worker monitor compliance with recommendations and orders from Judge, and apprise Judge of progress made by family

• Hearings are scheduled as needed to deal with continuing issues and violations

Stakeholders

• The Chief District Court Judge for the 19th Judicial District• Randolph County Schools Administration and School Social Workers• Asheboro City Schools Administration and Truancy Staff • The District Attorney’s Office for the 19th Judicial District• Randolph County Sheriff’s Office• Randolph County Clerk of Superior Court• Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention• Randolph County Department of Social Services• Representatives from Mental Health in Randolph County• Randolph County Health Department• Juvenile Day Reporting Center

Thank You For Your Time and Interest in Truancy Court!

For More Information, Please Contact The Randolph County School’s Truancy Social Worker