South Carolina Court Administration Sout Carolina Supreme Court Columbia, South Carolina Nee RAMEN, es Gino eees venrvomcon cant aaa ‘November 21,2019 ‘Timothy Hunter, Ed.D, 3419 Main Street Newberry, SC 29108 Deer Dr. Hunter: Ithas come to the attention of the South Carolina Judicial Branch that Newberry County School Disrct is operating, in conjunction with the Solicitor, a defered taney prosection ‘rogram. It appears that this program is denominated the "Newberry County Schoo! Dist Juiciary Cour,” that hearings ae held at a lcation identified asthe “Newer County School Courthouse," and that “School Attendance Orders” ae issued, which mimic the style and format of actual South Carolina Family Court orders, and which ae misleadingly captioned “IN THE FAMILY COURT EIGHTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT.” Further, a form leer on the Soliitor's letterhead but apparently sen by your office to parents and guardians, states, “The Newberry CCouaty Family Coust will offer you the opportunity to defer prosecution by paticipating with your child in the Newberry County uiciary Court Program.” ‘While the Judicial Branch flly supports intervention programs designed to remedy truancy issues, the deferred truancy prosecution program is nota program of the South Carolina Family Court, and as result labeling the proceedings as such is misleading, ‘We respectfully request you revise your forms, including the formatting and terminology of the “School Attendance Order” to remove any suggestion that the truancy prosecution program is judicial in nature. Further, we ask that you send a leter or otherwise communicate to those individuals currently participating in the program that itis in no way connected or afliated with the South Carolina Unified Judicial System. lease let us know if thee is anything we have misunderstood about the nature of the proceedingsRobert L, MeCurdy Deputy Director RLMimkb Ce: TonnyaK. Kohn State Court Administrator