If You Give a Man a Job, Will He Pay Child Support?
Tuesday / October 23, 2007
Some noncustodial parents just won't pay. Others would, if they could.
There are many ways to collect child support. One of the most draconian is to jail a noncustodial parent for failure to pay. But officials in Chesterfield County, Virginia, "tried to look for a better alternative" than just jail, Sheriff Dennis L. Proffitt told WCAV Channel 19. "Because it's kind of like chasing your tail, if you're in jail for not paying child support, you're in jail and can't work."
So the Sheriff and the local judges came up with a work-release program.
Once the noncustodial parent is paid up and released, hopefully he will keep that job and won't fall behind again.
In Sumpter County, Georgia, Child Support Services is encouraging noncustodial parents with child support arrearages to contact them. The Americus Times-Recorder reports that those who are willing to work but don't earn much "will be referred to the Fatherhood Program, which provides low-income parents who owe child support with counseling and training at state technical colleges so they can increase their earning power."
Sometimes noncustodial parents refuse to pay out of spite. But other times they can't keep up with payments because work doesn't pay enough or dries up. Sheriff Proffitt and his colleagues in Georgia are helping noncustodial parents to work so that they can pay their child support and not cost the taxpayers money by languishing in jail.
So the Sheriff and the local judges came up with a work-release program.
Parents found guilty of contempt for not paying child support are allowed to serve their 12-month jail terms on work release, if they hold a job and begin paying the money they owe through their earnings. If they don't already have a job, the Sheriff's Office finds one for them. "We work with several different employers around here in trying to get them working," Proffitt said. "Sometimes it's a fast-food place, but the work is honorable."
Once the noncustodial parent is paid up and released, hopefully he will keep that job and won't fall behind again.
In Sumpter County, Georgia, Child Support Services is encouraging noncustodial parents with child support arrearages to contact them. The Americus Times-Recorder reports that those who are willing to work but don't earn much "will be referred to the Fatherhood Program, which provides low-income parents who owe child support with counseling and training at state technical colleges so they can increase their earning power."
Sometimes noncustodial parents refuse to pay out of spite. But other times they can't keep up with payments because work doesn't pay enough or dries up. Sheriff Proffitt and his colleagues in Georgia are helping noncustodial parents to work so that they can pay their child support and not cost the taxpayers money by languishing in jail.