Non-custodial parents delinquent in paying court-ordered child support have less than two weeks to pay up before being arrested by Dale County Sheriff’s officials. The first-ever Dale County “Child Support Round-Up” will commence July 15.
Dale County Department of Human Resources Director Barbara Harden said more than 100 fathers and mothers are currently delinquent in making payments and currently owe more than $3 million to children in the county.
DHR Child Support Enforcement Supervisor Karen Clark said those delinquent must contact DHR prior to July 15 to make a payment and arrangements to cure any delinquency in order to avoid jail.
“They need to make contact with the Dale County Department of Human Resources between now and July 15,” said Clark. “Any that contact us and make arrangements by July 15, we will go back through the list and mark off the ones that no longer need to be on the list.” Any left on the list of delinquent payers on July 15 will have a warrant issued for their arrest.
Sheriff’s Department Capt. Kyle Anderson said the effort will be a multi-agency effort and a detailed plan will be made to locate those who owe child support.
“Take care of it now because if you’re on a family vacation (or on the job)…we’re going to come get you,” said Anderson. “Child support warrants are different than others in that it directly affects children in their day-to-day lives. The support that they get for housing, clothing and food, that’s what concerns the sheriff’s office.”
Most think it’s just men owing back child support, but Clark said otherwise. “You think it is only men, but we are finding more and more that that is not the case…It is a small percentage (of women), but we are seeing that more than ever, really, the mother not supporting the children.” Sometimes, Clark said, both parents are non-custodial and owe money to children being raised by grandparents or other relatives.
Clark cautions that if money ordered is not being paid because of visitation issues, the non-custodial parent(s) must realize that court-ordered child support must be made and that visitation is a separate issue and can be dealt with through appropriate legal channels.
“Ultimately, this roundup is for the children, to provide for their needs,” said Harden. “Ultimately, we want the collections to benefit children for the needs that they have…”
Anderson said those arrested will be charged with failure to pay ordered child support and unless they pay a purge amount at arrest, a first appearance before a judge will be made. Once the purge amount is paid, he said, the contempt of court is taken care of.
Clark said some of the delinquent parents are years behind and owe “many thousands of dollars.” She said the key for all delinquent payers is to contact DHR and work out an agreement before July 15.
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1 comment:
Jacqui Odell posted at 9:55 am on Thu, Jun 23, 2016.
OK, so let me get this straight: They're "coming to get them" NOW?? What about DHR actually doing their jobs at the correct time, as in, when our children were minors and we single parents NEEDED the support? My son, who now is nearly 20, needed help. I not only turned in his father's name multiple times, I provided updated addresses, MAPS to his addresses, because he moved often, family members, descriptions. All I asked for in return was child support legally due to us. *I* raised this child, worked 6-7 days weekly, overtime, double time, played both parent roles, paid all the bills, doctor's, dentists, played, worked, provided. I checked in monthly for years. All I ever was told was "we can't find him". So what about our family? For services rendered, sacrifices, time et al?? Why bother even having a child support agency if they won't bother taking a few minutes to do their job? Especially when I did it for them...