Austin Police Department Unified Daytime Curfew/ Truancy Initiative 2002

Austin Police Department Unified Daytime

Curfew/ Truancy Initiative2002

Austin Police Department

• Our Vision:– We want to be the safest city in America.

• Our Mission: – To protect and serve Austin’s diverse community so that

residents and visitors feel,and are, safe.• Our Goals:

– to be recognized as the most professional police department in the United States.

– in the next three years,become one of the ten safest cities in the United States.

– improve the trust and collaboration between community residents,businesses and police officers.

– reduce crime, the fear of crime, and improve the quality of life of Austin’s residents.

Unified Citywide Daytime Curfew/ Truancy Initiative

• To cause law enforcement, schools, court system, and community to respond with effective means to combat a growing problem

• Relieving Patrol from non-priority calls• Reduce 911 call load • Address community concerns• To document severity of the issue• Impact dropout rate citywide


Areas of Interest

Utilization of the SARA Model

• Scanning• Analysis• Response• Assessment


• Eliminate the problem • Reduce the harm associated with the problem• Reduce number of incidents• Improve handling of problem• Refer the problem to proper authority


Goals of Initiative(Scanning)

• Students in large cities are twice as likely to leave school before graduating than non-urban youth.

• More than one in four Hispanic youth drop out and nearly half leave by the eighth grade.

• Hispanics are twice as likely as African Americans to drop out, while White and Asian American students are least likely.

• More than half the students who drop out leave by the tenth grade.

• 20 percent quit by the eighth grade and 30 percent quit by the fourth grade.

• Absenteeism is detrimental to student achievement, promotion, graduation, self-esteem and employment potential.


Why Truancy?(Scanning)

Schools AllAfrican

AmericanHispanic White

Economically Disadvantage

Reagan H.S.1999-20001998-1999

7.1%8.0%

5.2%6.7%

8.9%

10.2%

**

5.1%5.5%

Dobie M.S.1999-20001998-1999

1.2%3.3%

**

*

5.7%

**

*

2.8%

Pearce M.S.1999-20001998-1999

2.1%3.7%

*

3.1%

3.3%5.0%

**

**

Webb M.S.1999-20001998-1999

1.4%3.4%

**

*

3.2%

**

*

2.8%

AISD’s Official Dropout Rates per T.E.A for 1999-2000 and 1998-1999(Analysis)


80

139

110

70

Total Arrest

Pilot Results of Roundup Initiative

Nov-00Jan-01Sep-01Mar-02


1. Law Enforcement

2. Public Education

3. Court Process

4. Resources


Four Step Approach(Response)

Law Enforcement(Response)

• Select Dates for city wide initiative with partner agencies.

• Issuance of arrests and citations.• Collection of documentation and stats. • Processing of citations by juvenile services.


Public Education(Response)

• Daytime curfew/truancy pamphlets issued to students at school orientation.

• Raising awareness of PTA’s and Neighborhood Associations.

• School district to improve early warning system to parents.

• School resource officers role will assist officers with expediting the process during return of students to the campuses.


• Municipal court must look at bringing the court to the community.

• Prior violations to be made part of juvenile’s case jacket.

• Statistics on disposition should be shared between law enforcement, school, and court system.

• Additional resources for parents and youth.


Court Process(Response)

• Social Services• Lifeworks• Planned Parenthood• Job Corps• Urban League• Family Forward• ROTC• Dropout Prevention

Program

• Underage Drinking Program

• Team Court• Youth Diversion

Center• Travis County

Counseling• YMCA• Boys and Girls Club• Parks and Recreation


Alliances(Resources)

Assessment must occur during each step of the SARA model to provide the initiative with a clear picture of who, what, when, where, and how Daytime Curfew/Truancy efforts are effective.

Holistic Approach: • Partnerships with other law enforcement agencies.• Gather Statistical Data of arrest citations issued citywide.• Implementation of a swifter court process and tracking

system of violators dispositions. • Review Surveys• School District Drop Out Programs willingness to create

new and effective approaches. • Does initiatives fit the goals and objectives?


Assessment

WPL Theories which apply to initiative (Individual)

• Expectancy

• Equity

• Motivation Through Consequences

• Job Re-design


Positive Approach In everything, the good is there;

Our goal is to find it.

In every person, the best is there; Our job is to recognize it

In every situation, the positive is there; Our opportunity is to see it.

In every problem, the answer is there; Our responsibility is to provide it.

In every setback, the victory is there; Our task is to claim it.

In every adversity, the blessing is there; Our adventure is to discover it.

In every crisis, the reason is there; Our challenge is to understand it.


Thank you WestPoint Leadership

Academy Staff

WPL Theories1. Individual

• Adult Development• Equity • Motivation Through Consequences• Job Re-Design

2. Groups• Socialization• Cohesion• Group Development• Decision Making

3. Leadership• Vertical Dyad• Situational• Transformational• Social Power


Documents

Austin Police Department Unified Daytime Curfew/ Truancy Initiative 2002