Truancy trouble (boy held in secure custody for absenteeism).

• Author: Mitchell, Teresa

A fourteen-year old Alberta boy had a terrible attendance record in school, which led to his case being referred to the Alberta Attendance Board for review. The Board issued an order that he attend school, but his attendance didn't improve. Next step was the Court of Queen's Bench, where the judge found him in contempt of the Attendance Order, and ordered him to attend school for the rest of the year. The boy ignored this order too, and so the judge then sent him to a Young Offender's Centre, to be held in secure custody for the rest of the year. The boy obtained legal aid and appealed the secure custody order. The judge hearing the appeal found that while the Young Offenders Act does allow incarceration as punishment for failure to obey a court order, it is not allowed for persons...