County Attorney

Juvenile Intervention Programs

Bullying Intervention Project

The Bullying Intervention Project is a program designed to improve behavior by juveniles at school by working in collaboration with parents, schools, and juveniles.

The focus of the Bullying Intervention Project is to provide early intervention to both students and parents as soon as the child starts exhibiting bullying behavior, thereby avoiding the child becoming a threat to other children.

Bullying can involve both direct and indirect physical, verbal or psychological behaviors. Both girls and boys bully, and the effects of bullying on both victims and bullies are severe. Victims tend to feel lonely, humiliated, insecure, have social and emotional adjustment problems, have a loss of self esteem, develop a fear of going to school, and are at greater risk of suffering from depression. Bullies tend to exhibit more delinquent behavior, chemical use, and are more likely to be a truant.

Early Intervention

Sherburne County has developed early intervention steps to involve parents and students prior to the filing of a school disorderly conduct petition.

  1. After the child has one incidence of bullying/disorderly conduct at school, the school makes a referral to the County Attorney's Office.
  2. The child and parent then attend a mandated meeting with a representative of the Sherburne County Attorney's Office to gain knowledge about what behavior constitutes disorderly conduct, including possible dispositions in cases, as well as understanding the effects of bullying on the victim and the bully. The meeting also provides the parents and students with information about services available through Sherburne County Social Services. The meetings take place either at the school or in the evening at the Sherburne County Government Center. At the end of the meeting, a Certificate of Attendance is provided to the student. The cost for the program is $15. This fee may be waved if the child or family receives assistance.
  3. If the child gets a second disorderly conduct, it is then filed with Court. This step will be taken if attempts at early intervention have failed. This requires attendance by both the parent(s) and the child.

Truancy Intervention Project

The focus of the Truancy Intervention Project is to provide early intervention to both students and parents as soon as the child starts missing school, therefore avoiding the child becoming a habitual truant.

Minnesota law requires all juveniles to attend school. Minnesota law defines a habitual truant as a student that has not lawfully withdrawn from school and has missed at least seven days or parts thereof without a lawful excuse.

Early Intervention

Sherburne County has developed early intervention steps to involve parents and students prior to the filing of a truancy petition.

  1. After the child has had 3 or more unexcused absences on 3 different days, the school makes a referral to the County Attorney's Office. The child and parent then attend a mandated meeting with a representative of the Sherburne County Attorney's Office to gain knowledge of the truancy laws, including possible dispositions in truancy cases, as well as gain an understanding of the effects truancy has on a child's future. The meeting also provides the parents and students with information about services available through Sherburne County Social Services. The meetings take place in the evening at the Sherburne County Government Center. At the end of the meeting, a Certificate of Attendance is given to the student. The cost for the program is $15. This fee may be waved if the child or family receives assistance.
  2. If the child continues to be truant, the family is referred to the Sherburne County Attendance Review Board (SARB). The family meets with representatives from the school, Sherburne County probation, community agencies, and the local police department to identify and address any issues that are preventing the child from attending school and being a successful student. The SARB board tailors their recommendations to the specific circumstances of each child, and the family signs a contract to work towards resolving the child's truant behavior.
  3. The last step is the filing of the truancy petition. This step will be taken if the earlier steps have failed.
Attorney Contact:

Sherburne County Govt Center
ATTN: County Attorney
13880 Business Center Dr NW
Elk River, MN 55330-1692

Office Location & Hours

Phone: 763-765-4725
800-433-5244
Fax: 763-765-4747

attorney@co.sherburne.mn.us