Truancy Cases

Truancy is an ever-increasing threat to the well-being of our community.  The future of our children is at stake: truancy puts the success of our youth at risk and contributes to delinquency.  Student absences also results in decreased funding to our local school districts, as state disbursements are tied to student attendance statistics.  

 

School districts themselves try to battle against truancy with their own resources, but Texas law gives schools a support structure beyond the school district. The Education Code provides an opportunity to file Class C misdemeanor charges in a JP Court in an effort to bring more community resources to bear.

 

Class C misdemeanor offenses are “fine-only” offenses where the fine per offense is up to $200. Some JPs leave it to prosecutors to work out reduced fines with children or parents charged with these Education Code violations.  Many defendants come from families that are economically challenged.  This strictly punitive approach adds to family stress and can do little to encourage change in behaviors.

 

Judge Mark Fury developed a strong program of community resources to intervene with families and children at risk.  A truancy charge is a sign a family needs help.  Working with court social workers associated with the county’s Triad program, Judge Fury served customized diversionary orders for each family appearing on such charges.  In a world where children often lack hope and
direction, he sent children to career counselors who volunteered to help them envision a career for themselves.  Personalized, individual.  With a vision, a child can feel the importance of their education as a stepping stone toward a purpose, a fulfilling career. Orders might also include elements such as parenting classes or esteem-building community service – resources that respond to a family’s needs.

School districts increasingly need the community to support them in their mission to prepare our youth for a bright future.  The JP Court is a point of intersection between the schools and the community – a place of greater impact and authority where hundreds of lives can be changed by altering a young person’s course, providing hope and direction.  

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Using this approach of diversionary orders, Judge Fury achieved impressive results.  He aims to do that again.  Under Mark’s oversight, a majority of child/family behaviors were turned around for the better – often simply by helping a young person see the reason “why.” It’s about slowing down enough to take each child one at a time, each family one at a time, and seeing what can be
done to provide hope and a direction that fits.

 

When a JP is willing to show commitment, go the extra mile, and has a passion for the future of our children, destinies can change.