The Richmond Police Department, the Retail Merchants Association of Greater Richmond, and city business leaders are joining forces to stop truancy. Police are encouraging businesses to refrain from doing business with school-aged youth during school hours, unless students are accompanied by an adult. A poster contest was held in the city schools. The contest winner's artwork will be used to promote the truancy campaign. The winning poster will display a telephone number for area merchants to call if students are loitering around businesses during school hours.
Truancy can lead students down an unsuccessful path of violence and poverty.