Ask the
Judge: Truancy docket leaves a paper trail
By Judge Steve Walker
For
the past 15 months every Sunday “Ask the Judge” has covered every facet
imaginable of the Justice of the Peace Court.
Truancy
has been covered from all aspects, yet there is one more aspect in truancy
court that has not been addressed. It is
the paper work involved in dispensing justice for the delinquent students who
are charged with failure to attend school.
As
the Judge I see the student in front of me with his/her parents unless he/she is 18 years or older along with
the attendance officer. All students who have not reached their 18th
birthday must have a parent, grand parent or guardian with them.
On
occasion a 17-year-old student will come into court without a parent or
guardian. At that point we reset the case since we are not allowed by law to
hear the case due to the student being under age. If for some reason the
attendance officer doesn’t show, we must also reset the case since we are
required to have the attendance officer in court to present the case.
Before
the student and parents show up for court, paper work is prepared and placed in
a file so that the attendance officer can make his/her case as to why the
student should be cited for failure to attend school and the parent for
contributing to their children not attending school.
When
the student and parents check in, that file is pulled and sent into the court
with the court clerk and called by the Judge when the docket begins. The
attendance officers also have a copy of the material in the file.
When
the student and parent/parents come up to the bench, as Judge I have a form in
front of me that must be filled out by me before the accused leaves the
courtroom. I must also sign it as well.
The
form in front of me is a veritable check list of all the possible mandates that
the student must fulfill before his/her next appearance.
As
Judge I determine the probation time (in months) the student will complete. In
the designated space, I write the number of months for probation. Then there is
the blank that I write in the fine amount, a counseling box that I check off
and write next to the box, mandates for anger management, goal setting,
decision making and possibly family counseling. I sometimes check the box for a
court ordered GED. I must circle the words, enroll,
attend and complete for that
mandate.
I
also can check the box revoking driver’s licenses or the box to prevent the
student from obtaining a driver’s license.
And
of course I do check the box to mandate the student obtain a public library
card and write a two sided book report. Finally I check off the box that
mandates students to attend tutoring or tutor other students under the
supervision of a teacher. I write the number of hours in the slot.
Once
I am finished with my paper work I hand it to the truancy clerk and they may
have the student and parent to fill out some forms to ensure the mandates are
fulfilled and they understand what is expected of them.
Lastly
as always, if you are due in court, be sure to show up to court on time. It is
in everyone’s best interest.
Justice of the Peace, Pct. 2 Steve Walker is a Vietnam Veteran
and a former Journalist.
