Posted on: Fri, Aug 15, 2008 - 1:57pm
I just read a news article that talked about a man who owed almost 400k in child support for his 13 children never paying a dime. He is now facing 1/2 a year in jail for it and has to come up with almost 40k before his release. While I don't mind the gov cracking down on deadbeat parents, how is he going to pay that off before release when they barely pay when a person is in jail normal or min. wage?
For a start he may be working in the prison and earning a little. But there are also work release programs. My mother in law was married to a man who was jailed for fraud. Because jailing him would stop him earning, he was jailed only on weekends. Monday morning he was released, he worked for five days, sleeping at home for four nights. Friday after work he returned to the jail, and this continued till he paid back the sum of money.
I've always wondered the same thing about such sentences. I imagine there must be something in place to allow for earning while behind bars otherwise it wouldn't work. What is even worst is how they think he's going to earn 40k in 6 months while behind bars. I can see if he made lots in real life, but behind bars doesn't earn you high 5 figures yearly.
They have a work release program. For those that are transferred to that system they are put on a waiting list. In the meantime they try to get jobs in the building where they can make some money, but that usually is applied to their personal needs account. When and if they can get a job on the outside it has to be approved. Once they start getting a paycheck either a percentage goes to the court order or all of it but at the same time they have to pay for their room and board in the jail. To think that if this guy had just done what he was supposed to he'd be out and free.
thalia
I really don't get how someone would have that many children and then pay for none of them. Parents, and I use that word loose need to be the responsible ones. I wonder what kinda of impact this will have on those kids.
I am sure its hard to make money when in jail but really to think that much could be paid back is someone floating on a cloud somewhere making up imaginary numbers. I don't even think if he was out of jail without a robbery taking place he could get that much together that quick.
One of the tactics used is that they offer to bail the guys, and use the bail money for CS payments. That means that then, they have to raise the bail through family loans and have family on their back for repayment, not the system. Hence, it seems to work a little better, they get their money back.