Why is the D.A.'s Office involved in a youth mentoring program?

Habitual truancy is a significant predictor of juvenile crime and gang involvement.  An analysis by the Shelby County District Attorney's Office indicates that on school days, about 25 percent of all juvenile crimes are committed during school hours and in locations other than school campuses. These crimes are attributed to truant and suspended students.

To combat the increase in truancy among Memphis City Schools, the D.A.'s Office has designed a program to match adult mentors with habitually truant youths in three pilot Memphis City Schools: Chickasaw Middle School, Cypress Middle School and Hickory Ridge Middle School.  In lieu of prosecution for truancy, and with the parents' consent, these students are ordered by the Shelby County Juvenile Court to participate in the program.

Do you want to help a student and make our community a safer place to live?

Mentors must meet with their matched student at least eight hours each month for a one year period.  Each mentor will go through a four hour training session conducted by the D.A.'s office under the direction of the National Mentoring Network.  Along with training, each mentor will go through an extensive background check of his or her criminal history and driving record, as well as a personal interview with personnel from the D.A.'s Office.

The D.A.'s office is looking for Mentors who reside in Memphis and Shelby County. Prospective mentors must be at least 18 years of age and have no felony convictions.  Prospective mentors should have a desire and concern to help habitually truant students stay in school and make good and informed decisions.

Do you want more information?

For more information about the District Attorney's Anti-Truancy Mentoring Program, contact Harold Collins at 545-5900 or send an email message to mentor@scdag.com.

To download a mentor application click here.