Truancy Citations Rise Sharply, Police Report

Stepping up efforts to keep children in school and off the streets, Los Angeles police are citing increasing numbers of youths under a tough anti-truancy law passed two years ago, according to figures to be released today.

Between March 9 and the June 20 end of the school year, officers cited 5,542 students, a significantly higher rate than before, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. In the last reporting period, officers issued 6,571 citations from Sept. 10, 1996, to March 8, 1997, about double the time of the current reporting period.

The rise in citations comes after a study earlier this year that showed daytime crime in Los Angeles dropping dramatically as a result of the anti-truancy ordinance, which penalizes truant youths with stiff fines, community service or, in more serious instances, suspension of driving privileges. The analysis found that burglaries and car thefts during school hours declined by about 25%; shoplifting dropped by a third.

Officials attributed the increase in citations to more uniform enforcement throughout the city.

“All divisions have bought into the program and really recognized the importance of truancy enforcement,” said Det. Ben Gonzalez, the LAPD’s chief coordinator for truancy abatement.

“They’re making greater efforts to write large numbers of truancy citations.”

Still, the figures revealed some disparity between the various LAPD divisions. Outpacing all others was the Van Nuys Division, which wrote 782 citations, nearly twice as many as any other division. After Van Nuys were Southwest Division, with 464 citations, and Foothill Division, which issued 452.

The citation statistics also showed that boys are cited twice as often as girls.

Truancy citations result in fines ranging from $135 to $675 for multiple violations. In many cases, the fines are waived after the student attends school for 60 consecutive days without an unexcused absence or performs community service.

Because the infractions go on the youths’ driving records, repeated violations can result in the suspension of their licenses.