Judge Penn announces new pilot program to monitor truants

L-R: Judge Linda Penn interviewed by reporters, SAPD Spokesman Gabe Trevino, Jo McCall, Danny Martinez, Fox News-29 Reporter Karen Martinez interviewing Police Chief Bill McManus, Commisioner Tommy Adkisson, Judge Linda Penn's husband, Pastor Tony & her mother, five press conference participants, Owen Hinckel Commissioner's Court Public Information Officer Laura Jesse, local photographer, KENS-5 Reporter Stacia Willson, Fox News-29 Reporter Karen Martinez, WOAI News Director Jim Forsyth, Telemundo Photojournalist Roy Ybarra, Photographer Ali Wallace, Reporters, Judge Penn's bench

Judge Linda Penn, Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, announced a new pilot program using electronic monitoring for truant students, Friday, August 22nd in her courtroom. The GPS tracking technology will allow her to monitor a sentenced student’s whereabouts 24/7.

The electronic monitoring devices are another tool Judge Penn will add to her Truancy Reduction Plan that includes mentoring, tutoring, counseling and support from community organizations to reduce the level of truancy in Precinct 4.

Walker Report Publisher & Justice of the Peace, Pct. 2, Pl.1 candidate & former Balcones Heights Councilman Steve Walker covering the press conference says, "every indication is that this program will succeed in cutting the number of truants coming to the JP Court. We must get our truants back in class.

"As one who has dealt with truancy for over 30 years in the public schools, I look forward to working with Judge Penn and implementing this program in January when I take office as the JP2 judge."