Policy Text
The Role of the Oakland Police Department
In Reducing Truancy
In Oakland, as throughout the nation, truancy is a major problem.
A truant is any school -age youth contacted in the community during regularly scheduled school
hours who does not have a proper school pass or who is not enrolled in a school.
Truancy represents a loss of learning on behalf of the youth and a loss of revenue to the OUSD. In
addition, youth who are not attending school can easily become either the victim or the perpetrator
of crime.
Contact ing Truant Youth s
Officers may , during regularly scheduled school hours, detain juveniles who are subject to
compulsory education to determine their status.
If no crime is involved, officers shall not pursue a juvenile if he or she flees.
What to do with Truants
If an officer makes contact with a youth in public during regular school hours and determines that
the youth falls into one of the following categories, the officer shall do one of the following:
• If the youth is regularly enrolled but does not have the proper documentation to be out of
school, the officer shall transport the youth to the youth's school in accordance with the
provisions of Education Code Sections 48264 and 48265 . OR
• If the youth h as been s uspended , is awaiting the discipline hearing process , has been expelled,
or is on independent study, the officer shall transport the youth to the T emporary Alternative
Placement (TAP) Center at 1025 2nd Avenue (Portable 13). OR
• If the youth is not registered or not enrolled in a school, the officer shall take the youth to the
Family and Community at 21 11 International Boulevard to verify the youth's status.
TRAINING BULLETIN
Evaluation Coordinator: YFSD Field Services Commander
Automatic Revision Cycle: 3 Years
“Department Training Bulletins shall b e used to advise members of current police techniques and
procedures and shall constitute official policy.”
Index Number: III-T
Alpha Index: Role of the OPD in
Reducing Truancy Date of Issue / Revision
18 May 09
2
Role of the OPD in Reducing Truancy, Index Number III -T
Truancy Documentation
Officers who detain a youth suspected of being a truant shall contact the YFSD In take Desk and
complete a Truancy Contact Card (TF-3224) (Figure 1 ). (Truancy Contact Cards a re available at
the Patrol Line -Up Room, Eastmont Substation and Youth and Family Services Division. Leave
the white copy at the location where the youth is taken, and the pink copy is deposited in the
Report Writing Receptacle or forwarded to YFSD Intake.) Truancy Contact Cards are maintained
by the Youth and Family Services Division (YFSD) and entered into a database to track truants
and youths who may be high -risk. Whenever a youth is identified as having three (3) or more
truant offenses, YFSD personnel shall process the youth in accordance with the provisions of
YFSD Policy and Procedure 08 -03, HIGH RISK VICTIMS (SEXUALLY EXPLOITED
MINORS).
Oakland Police Dep artment Truancy Contact Card
Student’s LAST Name, First, MI Date Time
Home Address City
Oakland State/Zip Home Phone ( )
DOB Age - Race Gender School
M
F
Location of Cont act Parent/Guardian
Parent/Guardian Address
Same as above Parent/Guardian Phone
Same as above
Disposition: (Check Box that Applies)
Released at Scene Transported to Truancy Center
Picked Up by Parent/Guardian Arrested
Transported Home Other
Remarks:
Officer Serial No. Time Consumed
TF-3224 (1/04) White – Truancy Center Pink – Officer
Figure 1: Truancy Contact Card
Transport ing Youths
Officers shall not transport a youth to the TAP Center or Family and Community Office in a patrol
wagon.
The youth is not under arrest ; however, officers are allowed to search any person being transported
in a police vehicle1.
1 Per People v. Tobin
3
18 May 09 ● Oakland Police Department
Criminal Activity
Whenever a truant is involved in or arrested for a criminal offense , the pro visions of General
Order O -3, PROCESSING JUVENILE OFFENDERS, apply.
Permits
Officers who contact s tudents with a valid Permit to Leave School shall be allowed to continue to
their destinations. See Figure 2.
Figure 2: Permit to Leave School This portion is retained
by the school.
This portion is retained
by the student while in
transit to and from
place of destination.
This portion is time
stamped and signed by
an authorized person at
the designated
destination. Student
returns completed
form to the school.
4
Role of the OPD in Reducing Truancy, Index Number III -T
A student enrolled in a special program or who is employed is issued an OUSD I dentification
Card by the appropriate school administrator . Officers who contact a student with this ID card
shall be allowed to continue to their destination (Figure 3 ).
OAKLAND UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Identification Card
(This is not a permit to work)
The bearer of this car d
________________________________________________
Is enrolled in ______________________________ School