Can Truant Officers Question Children Without a Parent

[tiffyluwho]

My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Texas

My children's school has turned my daughter in last year and my son in this year for having unexcused absences. After asking for proof of these absences it was proven that neither child was truant. My question is does a truancy officer have the right to speak to my children without me present? [/B]Had I been notified I could have addressed it and prevented this visit. Instead this truant officer informs them they are criminal, breaking the law and are subject to tickets and juvenile hall.

[aardvarc]

There is no requirement that law enforcement have parents present to question children about potential criminal matters.

[PTPD22]

Perhaps I'm being overly cynical, but the perceived tone and word choices in your post give me the impression that you covering for and enabling your delinquent children.

My children's school has turned my daughter in last year and my son in this year for having unexcused absences.

Ok, so you have been informed about an ongoing problem involving 2 different children over 2 years.

After asking for proof of these absences it was proven that neither child was truant.

Exactly how do you expect the school to prove a negative? Do you expect that the school has surveillance on every child during school hours so they could show you video of your child at McDonalds when he/she was supposed to be in math class? And, how was it "proven that neither child was truant?" Either the records show that the teachers saw the children in their class or they didn't.

Had I been notified I could have addressed it and prevented this visit.

Meaning, if you had known, you could have actively obstructed the police from investigating? Is your goal to address this issue and correct your children's delinquency? Or, if there is a legitimate reason for the absences, is it to explain this and clear up the issue? Because, your post leaves me with the impression that your goal is to shield your children from responsibility and enable them to continue their delinquency without consequence.