The Montgomery County Attorney's Office sees an increase in criminal cases and also works to decrease truancy in area schools.

 

That was the report made by County Attorney Melissa Johnson and Assistant County Attorney Karen Miller at this week's Montgomery County Commission meeting. The two attorneys were on hand to make their quarterly report to commissioners.

 

Miller outlined the program to decrease truancy, that began in Montgomery and Chautauqua counties in 2023. That year, 94 truancy cases were filed with an additional 105 cases the following school year. More than half of those cases occurred in Independence. Miller says the County Attorney's Office only handles cases for kids aged 13 and up.

 

Younger students are handled by the Department of Children and Families. Miller says the purpose of the intervention is to make sure students are going to class.

 

In addition to Miller's explanation of the truancy program, commissioners also heard an update from Melissa Johnson on criminal cases. Johnson says 401 such cases have been filed this year, compared to 417 in 2024.