Curfew and Truancy: Double Trouble

 As the school year begins, there is heightened concern for two potential problem areas that need to be addressed: curfew and truancy…and one could cause the other.

Every city, township and village in Summit County has a curfew in place for its children, though many time limits and day parts vary from town to town. Some are simple: 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. every day of the week. That rules applies for eight towns in Summit County.

 However, the City of Akron enforces two curfews during the school year. The common curfew is 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. everyday for children under the age of 18. From late August until early June, there is an 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. curfew while school is in session.

 A youth charged with a curfew violation faces an appearance in Juvenile Court where a fine and court costs are certain and community service is a possibility. A curtailed curfew could also be imposed wherein a youth has to be in the home hours before the normal curfew.

 It is important for a student’s parents or guardians to know and enforce curfews. Certainly it would benefit the quality of life of the community if children were in their homes at a proper hour and not roaming the streets. More so, it can only enhance a student’s ability to learn. Common sense indicates that a child that is well-rested will be more attentive in the classroom, aiding the learning process. A student who is still walking the streets past curfew is less likely to be sharp enough to absorb what is being taught. That is, if the child shows up for school at all.

 Which brings up truancy.

 Last year in Summit County, there were 10,000 truant students. That’s out of 100,000 students total. The truancy issue became of such concern, in 2000 the Ohio State Senate passed Bill 181, the Ohio Truancy Law. The law stipulates that not only is the student responsible for attending school, so, too, is the parent or guardian.

 If a child has seven consecutive unexcused absences, 10 days in a month or 15 days in a school year, that child is considered chronically truant and subject to Juvenile Court intervention.

 Sanctions against parents or guardians who fail to send their children to school may include mandatory mediation and parenting classes, up to 70 hours of community service and/or a fine up to $500. In some cases, jail time is a possibility.

 If the child continues to be chronically truant, the child could end up in detention and the parent or guardian could case charges of educational neglect or contempt of court.

 Most school districts and police departments have a diversion program in place which works with Juvenile Court to encourage truant students to attend school. Juvenile Court has a Truancy Task Force in place to examine the cause and effect of truancy, issue recommendations and work with the school districts and law enforcement agencies to educate children and parents on the importance of attending school and the ramifications if truancy persists.

 “A good education is a child’s best chance to succeed,” said Juvenile Court Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio. “By failing to attend school, a child is wasting the best opportunity he or she has to build the foundation for a productive life. Unfortunately, I see the alternative everyday in Juvenile Court.”

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