16 Calif. Parents Arrested for Failing to Make Child Support Payments

Sixteen parents in Los Angeles County have been arrested and jailed for failing to make child support payments, thanks in part to the Child Support Arrest Warrant Project.

The Los Angeles Child Support Services Department unveiled the project in March 2008. The project is what the CSSD calls its stepped-up efforts to prosecute those who are delinquent on child support payments.  The project was designed to make it possible for law enforcement officials to issue arrest warrants for non-custodial parents who are charged or convicted for not supporting their children.

The program is funded by a $500,000 appropriation from the county and $1 million of federal money.  The money is used to pay for additional District Attorney investigators to seek and serve the warrants.

To goal of the program is to ensure that parents do not ignore their responsibilities to their children by simply disregarding their obligation to pay child support. According to CSSD Director Steven Golightly, some parents are simply failing to make payments, even though they have the financial means to do so.  

So far, sixteen parents have received jail sentences from 30 to 180 days.  All together they owe more than $752,000 in back child support.

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