What Do You Believe Should Be Done?
By lynnemg
@lynnemg (4529)
United States
February 28, 2009 6:41pm CST
We all know that there are absentee parents out there. Parents who are supposed to pay child support, but not only do they refuse to pay it, they are also not a part of a child's life. Many states put these parents in jail when they do not pay their child support, but, this doesn't force many of tem to do the right thing. They could care less. They go to jail, get free meals, free housing, and we all pay for it. While in jail, their child support debt is not reduced at all, and often times, when they get out they still don't bother with it. I think that while they are in jail, they should be forced to get a job on a work release program and pay their support, along with paying for their housing while in jail. Why should these parents be able to live for free on the taxpayers' money, especially when they are there for not paying a debt that they owe to their own child? I think that they should have to stay in jail and work as I decribed until they are completely caught up pn their support payments.
What do you think should be done?
2 people like this
5 responses
@MysticTomatoes (1053)
• United States
11 May 10
It doesn't do any good to put the deadbeat parent in jail. Unless they own their own successful company, all jailtime does is deprive the custodial parent of more money. It's kinda hard to work 8 hours at a job to earn money while you're serving 30 in county lockup.
Suspending driver's licenses doesn't work well, either. I know several people who drove around on suspended licenses for close to three years before anything happened and they got caught.
Garnishments and leins are the only things that would work. If the deadbeat isn't working, freeze their assets. If they still continue to not pay, sell their assets at auction to benefit the custodial parent. Of course, there are always going to be the people who will work for cash only "under the table" if you will. It is then that the employer of that person should be fined and held liable for not taking out taxes and reporting income, especially if they knew that the employee was avoiding being detected while working as not to pay support.
@surveytaker29345 (489)
• United States
2 Mar 09
I have to say that I agree with you. I think that you have made a wonderful suggestion. Parents who do not pay child support should be forced to stay in jail and work until they can pay off their debt. I also think that this will prevent the unfairness to those who are unable to attain a job. If they are being paid for their work in prison, they have no excuses for not supporting their children. I also think that this type of law would be more of a motivation for some of these parents. I cannot imagine them wanting to stay in jail until they were able to pay off their debts, so maybe they would make their payments in the first place.
@melissapalardy (213)
• United States
1 Mar 09
my ex husband did not want to pay his child support to me, so the courts suspended his drivers license. that hit him really had because he drives for a living. he started paying his support again and now he has paid off all the money he owed me. he wasn't paying for about 10 years. i was so happy they had did that or else i might have never got my support.
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
1 Mar 09
I just recently filed some parents for child support. I don't expect it to go anywhere. He's gone this long without paying and I doubt that will change. The laws are not hard enough on the deadbeats. There should be a no excuse policy.
Honestly, if they had half a brain they would pay their child support. So many quit their jobs when the child support finds them. They would rather give up the benefits, pay check and points they earn through work than pay for the children.
In my own experience my ex comes around on rare occasions and makes excuses. He's sick, doesn't feel good, blah blah. In other words he only talks about himself. Lies to the kids and then he's gone. I have much more respect for the deadbeat that doesn't stick around just to make trouble and upset the kids.
@reckon21 (3477)
• Philippines
1 Mar 09
First thing is that I can't comprehend why some parents would denied
their child the supports they rightfully deserves. Children are helpless
creature,they can't feed on their own. It's our responsibility to take
good care of them and give them a bright future. I agree that those parents
who are in jail should work so that they can give their support to their kids.
