The Ninth Circuit currently holds Truancy Court one day a week at the Thomas S. Kirk Juvenile Justice Center and holds Truancy Court one evening a week in a community based program, referred to as Community Based Truancy Court. In July of 2004, the Florida Legislature provided funding for a statewide magistrate system. Following implementation of a Magistrate Division in the Ninth Circuit, a general magistrate was assigned to assist the circuit judges sitting in the Juvenile Division of the court, and currently, a general magistrate spends one full day each week hearing truancy cases in all middle and high schools in Orange County, except Jones and Evans High Schools.
Community Based Truancy Court is held on Thursday evenings at 4:30 p.m. at the Thomas S. Kirk Juvenile Justice Center for students from Jones and Evans High Schools. In the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court, the Community Based Truancy Court concept was established in cooperation with the Orange County Public Schools, Orange County Clerk of Court and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
The Truancy program provides participants and their families information and directions for services, as well as timely intervention and case management. Sanctions can be imposed for noncompliance and under certain circumstances cases can be referred to a Judge.