Truancy Interdiction Program

TRUANCY INTERDICTION
PROGRAM (T.I.P)

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office Truancy Interdiction Program (T.I.P.) began operation in September, 1992. Our program targets six middle schools in the southern Palm Beach County area. Any child who is picked up for truancy from Lantana Road south to the Broward County line is brought to our T.I.P. Center which is located at the District IV Substation of the Sheriff's Office, 345 S. Congress Avenue, Delray Beach, FL.

The center will accept any child from elementary school age up to the age of 16. Although we target the middle school age child, we will accept any child from any school under the age of 17.

It should be noted that truancy on the part of the child is NOT a crime, however, it is a SECOND DEGREE MISDEMEANOR on the part of the parent. Florida State Statute 232.19 reads as follows:

"THE PARENT THAT REFUSES OR FAILS TO HAVE A CHILD UNDER HIS/HER CONTROL TO ATTEND SCHOOL REGULARLY, SHALL BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR OF THE SECOND DEGREE, PUNISHABLE AS PROVIDED BY LAW."

Please be advised, the T.I.P. goal is not to arrest parents, but to encourage parent participation in their children's education, to prevent these children from becoming victims or perpetrators of crimes and to help them to become productive members of society.

WHAT IS THE TRUANCY INTERDICTION PROGRAM?

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information about on the Truancy Interdiction Program, please contact the T.I.P. Program Manager at 682-0026, Extension 176.

LOCATIONS

Delray Beach Truancy Center 274-1053 or 274-1081
District IV Substation

Boca Raton Truancy Center 483-4979
Mission Bay Satellite Office

Wellington Truancy Center 753-3469
Wellington Substation

The center operates in the following manner: Road Patrol Officers from the Sheriff's Office and all other south county municipalities locate and pick up truants and deliver them to T.I.P. Resource officers screen each truant to determine the cause of the truancy. If there are underlying problems with the child, the child is then referred to the on-site Crisis Counselor for further evaluation.

The parent/guardian of that child is then contacted and requested to respond to the center and speak with the resource officers and/or Crisis Counselor. The program and the laws governing truancy are explained and the parent/guardian is then required to return the truant child to the school that same day and conference with the school's disciplinarian. This conference will determine any underlying problems the child may be having in school and if disciplinary action is necessary. The parent/guardian, while at T.I.P., may also meet with the Crisis Counselor and referrals to outside agencies may be made at that time.

A copy of the truant child's attendance is provided to T.I.P. staff and that child's attendance is monitored for the rest of the school year. If the child is habitually truant over a period of time, referrals are then made.

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS

The concept of the program is to educate parents about laws governing school attendance, placing truants back into schools and lessening the chances of the children becoming victims or perpetrators of crimes.

Students who are diverted back into the educational environment are less likely to be involved in delinquency. This program is designed to take the truant, transform him/her into an active student, eventually graduating and finally becoming a productive member of society.

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