Custodial parents of four Caddo Parish public school students are being sought for failing to appear in juvenile court to answer for the actions of their truant children, Caddo Parish District Attorney James E. Stewart Sr. says.
Caddo Parish Juvenile Judge Natalie Howell issued bench warrants for the parents Wednesday, July 6, 2022, when they failed to appear for a Contempt of Court hearing before her. The hearing at which the parents failed to appear this morning was for the judge to determine what to do to the parents for their failure to comply with previous court orders to get their children in school or to comply with the court’s truancy probation officer.
“Non compliance by parents with efforts to get children in school will not be tolerated,” DA Stewart says.
The parents and the particulars of their cases are:
Brittany Johnson, 33, of the 4300 block of Illinois Ave., Shreveport, docket No. 166,168. She was scheduled for a rule to show cause on why she shouldn’t be held in contempt of court for missing the mandatory conference with the truancy officer that was ordered by the court. Her child has missed 111 days of school at Fair Park Middle School.
Nina Thomas, 34, of the 200 block of Brookbriar Drive, Shreveport, docket No. 166,317. She was scheduled for a rule to show cause on why she shouldn’t be held in contempt of court for missing the mandatory conference with the truancy officer that was ordered by the court. Her child has missed 85 days of school at Caddo Heights Elementary.
Ashley Green, 38, of the 2000 block of North Hearne Avenue, Shreveport, docket Nos. 166,424 and 164,718. She’s the mother of two children, each child falling under a separate docket number. She was scheduled for two rules to show cause on why she shouldn’t be held in contempt of court for missing the mandatory conference with the truancy officer for each of her two children that were previously ordered by the court. In docket No. 166,424 that child has missed 27 days of school at Northside Elementary. In docket No. 164,718, that child has missed 26 days of school at Northside Elementary.
All of these children have been previously adjudicated as truants, but the parents have continued to refuse to comply with school board officials and truancy prevention volunteers in getting the children to school. When found, all will be remanded to jail pending further legal actions.