Child Support Roundup
El Paso County Sheriff Conducts Child Support Roundup 20 parents arrested in sweep of parents who failed to pay child support
EL PASO – El Paso County Sheriff Richard Wiles has arrested 20 El Paso County parents who violated court orders requiring them to pay child support. The sweep was conducted in conjunction with the Texas Attorney General’s Child Support Division. Today’s effort focused on parents who are the subject of warrants because of their failure to pay their court-ordered child support. In addition to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Pct. 1 Constable Robert White, Pct. 7 Constable Angie Sommers and the U.S. Border Patrol participated in the countywide effort.
Child Support Division investigators aided Sheriff Wiles by providing logistical assistance to locate missing parents. “Parents have a moral and legal obligation to make regular child support payments,” Attorney General Abbott said. “By collecting child support, we are ensuring young Texans have the resources they need to grow healthy and strong. We are grateful to Sheriff Richard Wiles, Pct. 1 Constable Robert White, Pct. 7 Constable Angie Sommers and the U.S. Border Patrol for their commitment to Texas children.”
The sweep reflects the El Paso County Sheriff’s commitment to locating and arresting parents who are wanted for contempt of court because of their failure to pay child support.
Today’s operation kicked off at 4:30 a.m. when Sheriff Wiles dispatched six teams of law enforcement officers to arrest the noncompliant parents before they had a chance to leave their homes for the day.
Delinquent parents arrested on civil warrants face up to six months in jail. Cash bonds posted by delinquent parents seeking release from jail are paid to the custodial parents and children who are owed back child support. Parents who have outstanding warrants can avoid the embarrassment of arrest at their home or work by contacting the warrants section of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office at 601 E. Overland.
Parents who have fallen behind on their child support payments – but are not subject to warrants for their arrest – should immediately contact the Attorney General’s Child Support Division at (800) 252-8014 to make payment arrangements. Under state and federal law, the Office of the Attorney General can assist families who request child support services and must serve families who currently receive or have received public assistance. Services offered by the Child Support Division include locating absent parents; establishing paternity for children born to unmarried parents; establishing, enforcing, and modifying child and medical support orders; and collecting and distributing child support payments.
Statewide, child support collected by the Office of the Attorney General exceeded $2.7 billion for the state fiscal year that ended Aug. 31, 2009. The Attorney General’s El Paso County child support offices collected $108 million of that amount.
