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
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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