CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — With 100 class C misdemeanor juvenile cases in the Corpus Christi Municipal Court and an increasing truancy rate, multiple agencies want to combat the problem.
On Saturday, local resources and agencies set up booths at the American Bank Center for the inaugural Youth Resource Fair. Multiple resources were offered for families and their teens; from healthcare to after school activities.
Justice of the Peace Precinct Two Thelma Rodriguez oversees truancy cases and class c misdemeanors. She said too many children are missing school which can lead to bigger trouble later on in life.
"A lot of men and women that are in prison currently started out in truancy court," she stated.
She said although it may seem like a simple and small act, she said skipping class can lead to bigger repercussions.
"They don't realize something so simple does follow them."
Senior Officer Jose Flores attended the fair to represent the Corpus Christi Police Department. He said another problem the department sees among teens is reckless driving, driving without a license and drug use.
"Everything you do has a consequence and be prepared to deal with that consequence," he said.
Flores added a class C misdemeanor may not seem like a big deal, but starting a criminal record early in life is no way to kickoff adulthood. He said most people believe their juvenile record maybe expunged as they get older but that is not the case.
"Whatever you do there is a consequence and sometimes these consequences end up overriding their adulthood," the senior officer said.
Flores called upon students to make better choices and parents to keep a close eye on what their children are doing, especially online and on their phones.
"Parents grew up in a different age, the times are different, the amount of information that's available to our kids is vastly hug."
Both Flores and Rodriguez hope to have more resource fairs like this one to combat truancy and juvenile criminal records in the Coastal Bend.
"They need to realize and know that there are resources and there are people there to help them at all times."