The Eighth Judicial District Court is seeking volunteer Truancy Diversion judges to work with the Clark County School District and the Clark County Charter Schools to reduce absenteeism in school in an effort to reduce the number of youth entering the formal juvenile justice system.

The Role of a TDP Judge
TDP judges make a difference in the lives of the children and families who appear before them. A TDP judge commits one morning each week to preside over a truancy calendar at an assigned CCSD/Charter school. Wearing a judicial robe, the TDP judge, an educational liaison and a family advocate meet with students and their families to address each student’s attendance record, behavioral issues and barriers to regular school attendance.

The Judge encourages and rewards positive behavior, with incentives provided by the TDP program for student’s progress. If a student is not following the program guidelines, consequences such as essay writing, agreed upon removal of privileges at home, etc. are utilized.

The TDP judge imparts authority to the proceedings while also providing students with an approachable authority figure. The interaction between judge and family provides participants with enhanced social skills and a sense of increased empowerment, leading to more effective parenting, better family communication and an increased appreciation for the value of education. The total time commitment is approximately 2.5 hours per week for the duration of the upcoming school year.