Youth Services Unit
Strategic Response Bureau - Zone Resource Section
The Truancy Enforcement Unit has a two officer team assigned to each Patrol Zone, for a total of ten officers. The unit’s mission is to patrol area schools, neighborhoods, and business districts to prevent and address student truancy. During a recent school year, the unit apprehended 1243 truants and charged 169 with truancy. During the first half of the last school year, 460 truants were encountered. Enforcement options for these officers include transporting the truants to a Truancy Center, home, or returning them to school.
Through aggressive and consistent enforcement, the Truancy Unit has steadily reduced truancy rates each year since the 2010-2011 school year. The below apprehension rate chart shows a 59% decrease in truant students found in public locations during school hours.