NCJ Number
211674
Date Published
September 2002
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Concerned that truancy might be the first step toward delinquent and criminal activity, the Wanganui Truancy Service (New Zealand) examined the correlation between the habitual truancy of intermediate school-age children and juvenile offending in the Wanganui area from 1999 to 2001; the project also implemented early intervention strategies to improve school attendance.
Abstract
Based on truancy figures compiled by the Wanganui Truancy Service (WTS), for 1999, 2000, and 2001, this study found that in the first 2 years of the study, approximately one-third of the intermediate school-age truants came to the notice of the Police Youth Aid section; and approximately 10 percent of the truants offended on three or more occasions. The continued WTS focus on truants in the middle school years significantly reduced the number of intermediate school-age truants from 97 in 2000 to 41 in 2001. The data show that a small number of intermediate school-age students were recidivist truants and were at risk of becoming serious offenders. The WTS is staffed by one full-time operations manager, one part-time attendance officer, and several volunteers. The WTS delivers services to students, their families, and 41 of the district's schools. The WTS is responsible for identifying truants and intervening to correct truant behavior. Resources for dealing with truancy include school counselors and social workers, school nurses, special education services, Police Youth Aid section, and Department of Child Youth and Family. Some families present intergenerational complex problems that cannot be resolved without an integrated response from supporting agencies. Home visits may be arranged with families of students who refuse to accept that they have an obligation to attend school. The WTS's holistic approach to dealing with truancy as a family issue has reduced the incidence of parentally condoned truancy. Three case studies are presented. 4 tables