Last Chance For Parents And Kids

When District Attorney John Tyson spoke, an auditorium full of parents and students listened.

"The law says you have to go to school," he told the crowd. "If you don't, both you and your parents could be prosecuted."

In 2008, nearly 1,000 parents have been forced to face a judge for not getting their kids to school. Tyson and the Mobile County Public School System hope a truancy prevention program will turn some young lives around.

"It does work," says Tyson. "I'll say a substantial number. As many as half will get it right from now on," he said.

The program meets every Friday at Government Plaza. Participants hear remarks from Tyson and watch a video from prisoners who say their life of crime began with skipping class.

More than 250 families were invited to attend Friday's session... 93 showed up. Most of the kids we talked to seem to get the message.

"They're trying to help you get your education because you can't really do nothing without it," said Jordan Klemas, who says he had six or seven unexcused absences last year. Destiny Scott missed nearly twenty days of school. "My mom couldn't get me there," she said.

Tyson congratulated everyone who attended the program, saying they've made a step in the right direction, but for those who didn't show up this may not be the end of the road. The District Attorney's office will decide on an individual basis whether to prosecute the cases.