Truancy

If your child has missed 25 days or more, his/her case can be considered for petitioning by the Office of the Attorney General - OAG. You should go to your child’s school and obtain their attendance records and any supporting documents that show the school’s efforts to address the matter. This includes, but is not limited to:
•    parent/teacher conferences,
•    a referral to a diversion program and/or
•    letters forwarded to the home.
•    any efforts you have made to address the matter, such as contacting community agencies for assistance.

This information is attached when the case is referred to the OAG for consideration of petitioning.

Approximately 95% of all truancy cases are submitted through a referral from DC Public Schools or DC Public Charter Schools, which have policies in place regarding referrals. If your child has missed 25 days of school or more, the school should have contacted you and offered supportive services prior to making the truancy referral to the Court.

How do I...

Open a truancy case on my child?
A Juvenile Probation Officer located in Room 305-A of Court Building B at 510 4th Street, NW can screen your case and refer you to a community agency. No official case will be opened at the time of the screening.

Find out how truancy cases get reported to the Attorney General and the Court?
Approximately 95% of all truancy cases are submitted through a referral from DC Public School and Public Charter schools. DC law requires that schools refer truancy cases. If your child has missed 25 days of school or more, the school should have contacted you and offered supportive services prior to making the truancy referral.

Learn more about what happens when a truancy case is filed?
When a truancy case is filed with the court, your child will be assigned a juvenile probation officer and an initial hearing will be scheduled. The Probation Officer will meet with you and make community visits (home, school, curfew checks) prior to this initial hearing to assess your child’s situation. At the initial hearing, the judge will order conditions or rules for your child to follow which are monitored by your child’s Probation Officer. If you provide proof of your child’s improved school attendance, the case may be closed early. In some cases, it is determined that services are needed and the case is referred to a social services agency to provide services rather than proceed with a court case.