First-ever Skidmore student hired to work in DA's office

Michael S. Elmo ?10 has been appointed to the part-time position of student truancy coordinator for the Saratoga County District Attorney?s Office, according to an announcement by D.A. James A. Murphy III. 

Elmo is the first undergraduate, and the first Skidmore student, to be hired by the D.A.?s office, following completion of two previous unpaid internships.

The Truancy Prevention Program is a school-based initiative that works to resolve student truancy on a non-criminal basis.  The program is designed only for parents who do not take an active role in getting their kids to school (for example requiring older siblings to watch a younger one or a parent who authorizes absences for no legitimate reason).  The district attorney?s goal is not to incarcerate, but to provide services that a parent might not realize are available and to advise the non-cooperating parent about the importance of education and school attendance, which is the number-one factor in decreasing juvenile delinquency, according to Murphy.

Murphy works with resource agencies and school districts in Saratoga County to encourage parents to take an active role in their child's education and help them solve the problems that make it difficult to get their child to school daily.  If parents fail to respond to school and resource agency outreach, the District Attorney?s office becomes directly involved.

Parenting classes, counseling referrals, and coordinating with the Department of Social Services are among the many options available. As program coordinator, Elmo also will review cases to determine whether Saratoga County Probation Department and its PINS (person in need of supervision) diversion program would be appropriate.

Elmo began his first internship in the D.A.?s office in May 2008. Murphy said, ?From the beginning, his impressive work ethic, writing, and intuition distinguished him from the other interns, all of whom had more advanced degrees.   After doing an excellent job during his field placement, we asked Michael to return for a second semester-long internship.?  The second internship was focused on the Truancy Prevention Program, where he tested the waters and began his research on chronic truancy and its effect on juvenile delinquency.

Said Murphy, ?Michael is a grounded and gifted individual. We are lucky to have such a capable young man working for us.  He is a credit to Skidmore College and the field placement program.?

Since beginning work in January, Elmo has implemented revisions and updates that have strengthened the program.  He's visited with school officials and plans to meet with all 12 school districts in Saratoga County.

According to Murphy, the Truancy Prevention Program has yielded positive results.  Since its 2001 inception, 58 of the 284 students who were absent 15 or more days resulted in a notification to the district attorney's office.  Of those, 12 required meetings with the district attorney and one has resulted in an arrest, which is pending as an active case. 
 
Prior to Elmo's appointment the D.A.?s Crime Victim Unit handled the program.  However, due to the volume of victims in the system and the increase in numbers of school districts participating, the Unit was no longer capable of handling the cases.