A new state truancy law is in effect this school year.

It works off the assumption that the quote robe effect that is standing before a judge can get a student back on the right track.

Our June LaFleur spoke with the Jefferson County Family Court judge to get his take on the new law.

And these Family Court chambers.

Kids can hold on to a stuffed animal for some support.

I don't know anyone that wants to be in front of a judge.

Students that have missed too many days of school can end up in Judge Derwin Webb's courtroom.

Having a child come in front of me.

I tried to assure them that they are not in trouble per se.

But I want to ensure them that the issue why we're here is extremely important.

A new state law hopes to curb student absenteeism by getting more kids in front of judges like Webb.

I applaud the effort.

I applaud the the reason why they are doing it.

But I know in practice it's going to create a strain for us.

House Bill 611 says school districts must refer students to the local court system once they miss 15 days of school.

Jefferson County Public Schools says last year one in four students fit that bill.

Jefferson County had close to 23,000 students last year that would fit this role.

If all those cases were divided amongst ten family court judges, I'm not quite sure when I would have a chance to listen to all those cases.

Divorce, custody, abuse and other family matters keep Webb busy.

Now he's seen an uptick in truancy or status cases on his dockets.

Last year, I was here.

Maybe two or three a month.

Just a couple of days ago, I received numbers from our liaison with CPS, letting us know that, like, for example, one division is going to receive ten new cases this month.

Another division is going to receive 1550 new cases this month.

Truancy doesn't warrant any criminal charge.

Four students are parents until it does.

It was on my status docket.

I finally get a chance to see the young person come into the courtroom.

We would talk about a potential plan going forward in the future and hoping that plan will involve outside services or we try and figure out what the root of the problem is.

Once we get that problem under control, if you will, well, hopefully see a progress progression over a period of time and hopefully be able to dismiss the case at that point.

If that does not occur, that case could possibly be referred to my dependency, neglect and abuse case docket.

Judge Webb does not want to see these cases level up in the court system.

In fact, he rather meet kids before they end up in his courtroom.

Attorneys called me and asked me if I could go to a school and talk to a kid about something.

I have been known to get up at 5:00 and go to a kid's house and ride the bus to school with them.

I understand also that my words and my actions have weight to them and gives me a chance to show someone that not only is it important, but that person that I'm talking to, they are important also.

Webb says he and the county's court designated worker are pursuing a new diversion program.

But JC's.

For Kentucky Edition, I'm June Leffler.

Thank you, June.

Last week, AJC said it would start sending students names to the county attorney's office this month.

That includes 22 kindergarten through fifth graders.

So far, Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell said he doesn't want to prosecute parents to the full extent, but, quote, You don't want to test my resolve.

End quote.