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Family Forum / Parenting / Parenting / July 2004Durham (NC) goes after deadbeats
The county is calling hundreds of parents into court to get child-support payments By BENJAMIN NIOLET, Staff Writer DURHAM -- Social workers have summoned as many as 713 suspected deadbeat parents to court today in the largest child-support roundup in Durham County history. The parents, overwhelmingly men, made it to today's special docket because they either owe the most money or have been the most uncooperative. The county takes parents to court for overdue child support all the time, but it has never before tried to get so many people into court on a single day, said Mary Flounoy, the county's program director for child support enforcement. The county has piled on enough cases to fill two district courtrooms for an entire day. No one is sure how many parents were served or how many will show up this morning. But court employees are bracing for courtrooms and hallways jammed with cranky fathers. County officials said they have not counted how much overdue money is represented by today's docket. A spot check of the list shows typical amounts range from $10,000 to $30,000. Several of the parents owe more than $40,000. Scottie A. Johnson, 42, owes $104,000 in back child support, according to county officials. Wendell Flynn, 47, who was ordered to pay $50 a month to help support his son, owes $54,908 in overdue child support. Neither Johnson nor Flynn could be reached Tuesday. The county has about 12,000 child support cases. Only a minority of parents pay on time, tell the county when they move or change jobs or voluntarily notify the county to take a cut from an unemployment check, Flounoy said. For the rest, Durham employs 22 enforcement agents. "We do have some folks who would rather go to jail," Flounoy said. Failure to pay child support is not a crime. But a judge can impose a 30-day jail sentence or other sanctions if a parent is found to be in contempt of the court's order, Flounoy said. Court employees said Tuesday that there are too many names on the docket to hold hearings. The parents will have a chance to work their debts out with the county, but in most cases, they will be able to request an appointed lawyer, hire their own or defend themselves. Their cases likely will then be continued. County attorneys will represent the Department of Social Services. A handful of counties have tried a similar child-support roundup in the last several years, but they are by no means common, said Barry Miller, chief of child support enforcement services for the state. "Maybe I should say, 'God bless them,' " Miller said. "It takes a good deal of effort on all the participants' part ... to coordinate an action as big as this." Of the 12,000 cases in Durham, 1 or 2 percent are women who owe men money, a number that has increased in the past few years, Flounoy said. Both the federal and state governments place goals on the county agency to ensure that collections are aggressively handled. Durham County met its state-imposed goal to collect $13.4 million in the fiscal year, which ends today, Flounoy said. Other counties have found that after they stuff the courtrooms, the money pours in. Even fathers who weren't summoned to court suddenly become a little better about making payments. "The ripple effect works for several months after a court day like this," Miller said. "They say, 'Whoops, they're serious.' " Staff writer Benjamin Niolet can be reached at 956-2404 or bniolet@newsobserver.com. .................... Wendell Flynn, 47, who was >ordered to pay $50 a month to help support his son, owes $54,908 in >overdue child support. === ROFL! Good ole CSE math, eh? Looks like poor Mr. Flynn is what, 91 years in arrears? And he's only 47. Must have been one heck of a gestation. Jeez, I hope he shows up to appeal. === === > .................... > Wendell Flynn, 47, who was [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Must have been one heck of a gestation. Jeez, I hope he shows up to appeal. > === ----------------------- I was amused by their figures as well. 18 years of $50 a month without interest is $10,800. $44,108 in interest seems pretty steep to me. I wonder if the general public ever looks at these figures and does the math. ~AZ~ > === Just guessing here but I bet he had a different amount initially, and it was reduced to just $50 a month. Reporter didn't do a very good job on this one! Zimm >>In article <10e6o5qnuf3vu3f@corp.supernews.com>, Editor -- Child Support > [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > >>=== > > In article <10e6o5qnuf3vu3f@corp.supernews.com>, Editor -- Child Support > News [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > > === It's remarkable that he owes that much, but certainly not mathematically impossible. According to my calculations, $50 a month compounded monthly at 15% APR for 18 years does come to a total of $54,531.13 of principal plus interest. That's disgusting that the state would impose a 15% interest rate on unpaid child support! Anybody know how all that interest is accounted for? Does it go to the child, or does it just line the state's coffers? > > > In article <10e6o5qnuf3vu3f@corp.supernews.com>, Editor -- Child Support > > News [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > for? Does it go to the child, or does it just line the state's > coffers? If you think NC is bad, you should take a look at MA - they charge 12% interest, then hit you with an additional 6% for their paperwork jockies!! Total: 18% APR Cripes, there are loads of credit card companies that don't charge that much!! And people wonder why there are deadbeat parents... GovCo -makes- them! > The county is calling hundreds of parents into court to get > child-support payments [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > parents to court today in the largest child-support roundup in Durham > County history. By "parents" they mean "men." They always pretend that their tyrannical oppression is unisex, but in fact it's 99% hammering on men. > The parents, overwhelmingly men, made it to today's special docket Yes, overwhelmingly slavery of MEN. > "We do have some folks who would rather go to jail," Flounoy said. > Failure to pay child support is not a crime. But a judge can impose a > 30-day jail sentence or other sanctions if a parent is found to be in > contempt of the court's order, Flounoy said. Nobody would "rather go to jail." The lying sack of sh.t Flounoy ought to be shot. The USA outlawed debtor's prisons with the Revolutionary War. They were an anathema for 200 years, but by the late 20th century debtor's prisons are back -- only for men. There is no justice under law in South Carolina, only slavery and prisons. Bob  SignatureWhen did we divide into sides? "As president, I will put American government and our legal system back on the side of women." John Kerry, misandrist Democratic candidate for President. http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/women/ [Bob does not advocate any illegal, seditious, or immoral acts. All posts are for discussion, rhetorical, or humorous purposes only.] -SNIP- > "We do have some folks who would rather go to jail," Flounoy said. > Failure to pay child support is not a crime. But a judge can impose a > 30-day jail sentence or other sanctions if a parent is found to be in > contempt of the court's order, Flounoy said. I think that's the blanket euphimism to cover those who won't or can't pay. The problem is the won't is probably the minority and the can't is the majority. And the only solution apart from working with them and ending up in the situation of the guy who pays $50 a month (and is probably pilling up more than a $1000 a month in interest) is to toss them in jail - which does nothing except to help increase the amount that's paid to the CS agency and NOT the child (or more correctly the child's mother). > -SNIP- > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > nothing except to help increase the amount that's paid to the CS agency > and NOT the child (or more correctly the child's mother). Indeed, it's all designed to maximize the amount paid to the C$ agency. Actual support of any child is way down their list of priorities. Bob SignatureWhen did we divide into sides? "As president, I will put American government and our legal system back on the side of women." John Kerry, misandrist Democratic candidate for President. http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/women/ [Bob does not advocate any illegal, seditious, or immoral acts. All posts are for discussion, rhetorical, or humorous purposes only.] > > -SNIP- > > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > Indeed, it's all designed to maximize the amount paid to the C$ agency. > Actual support of any child is way down their list of priorities. Correction: It's not on their list at ALL. > Bob >>>-SNIP- >>> [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Correction: It's not on their list at ALL. Government CS employees are a nuisance species under MEN's game and fish regulations. No bag limits. No hunting season. Shoot as many as you like, and toss the worthless carcasses in the swamp for the gators. Bob SignatureWhen did we divide into sides? "As president, I will put American government and our legal system back on the side of women." John Kerry, misandrist Democratic candidate for President. http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/women/ [Bob does not advocate any illegal, seditious, or immoral acts. All posts are for discussion, rhetorical, or humorous purposes only.] Hopefully the next American revolution is not too far off and these bastards will pay for their crimes against fathers and children the same as has previous tyrants and oppressors throughout history. > > The county is calling hundreds of parents into court to get > > child-support payments [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > Bob doh!. I shot the post off below yesterday morning in haste without proof reading. After scanning new messages I now see the actual tone did not come across and an error in one word that may cause someone to misinterpret the meaning. So to correct: This was supposed to be "where these bastards" with the response being a sarcastic tone not to the poster but in context to the comment of debtors prison being outlawed since the Revolutionary War. >"Don" <don@free> wrote in message news:... > Hopefully the next American revolution is not too far off and these bastards > will pay for their crimes against fathers and children the same as has > previous tyrants and oppressors throughout history. Post was intended as only a sarcastic observation. To chose better words, an observation based on history of what may happen years from now if the laws are not changed. Since no society in history puts up with this stuff for very long without holding these types accountable as has happened to other oppressors and tyrants throughout history. Hopefully I will not see that in my life time but legislative changes instead. The worst time not to proof read with everything going on these days and later the same day I see we now have some a.shole advocating their violent hate sh.t in the same newsgroup. I think I need a Bob disclaimer. Perhaps [Don is a patriotic, I love America, pro-Bush, pro-war on terror, fathers rights advocate, read at your own risk, not to be confused with the other Don] Don > > > The county is calling hundreds of parents into court to get > > > child-support payments [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > > > Bob Deadbeat parents pay up in court BY SARAH MUENCH : The Herald-Sun ghi@heraldsun.com Jun 30, 2004 : 10:40 pm ET DURHAM -- At least 220 deadbeat parents lined up to pay overdue child support Wednesday in the largest docket that officials said Durham County District Court has ever seen for child support cases in a single day. Child support enforcement workers summoned 715 parents to court Wednesday. Of that number, 31 percent turned out, and $6,547.84 in unpaid child support was collected out of millions owed in Durham County. Durham County's collection goal for 2003-04 was $13.4 million, which was set by state officials to encourage more aggressive collection efforts, local officials said. The county met that goal earlier in the week, said Mary Flounoy, the county's program director for child support enforcement. "We're trying to be more aggressive to meet our goal, which is to collect more child support, bottom line," Flounoy said. "The court has ordered it, you owe it, your family needs it." Nearly 90 arrest warrants were issued for those who failed to appear, Flounoy said. She said those summoned to court Wednesday were overwhelmingly male. The child support that each delinquent parent owed was listed on Wednesday's court docket, and each was given the choice of paying all or some of the money on the spot, setting a court date or agreeing to pay an extra amount per month in addition to their normal monthly payment. If a parent is found to be in contempt of the court's order to pay up, he or she could serve 30 days in jail, Flounoy said. Durham resident Ricky Henry Evans owed the largest overdue amount -- $156,441.96 -- to his ex-wife and their two sons. "That's the biggest I've seen, and I've been here 14 years," said court clerk Linda Woods. "I don't understand how that ever happened." According to court documents, Evans is supposed to pay $150 per week until his youngest son is 18, plus $50 a month toward any amount past due. Court clerks said he didn't pay any of the money Wednesday, but he did file for a continuance and will represent himself or hire an attorney for his Aug. 31 court date. Lynwood A. Rhodes made the biggest payment of the day -- $1,625 -- to his son, who is in N.C. Foster Care. Rhodes' monthly child support payment is $300, court papers show, but he owed a past due amount of more than $5,000. Fathers and mothers who don't pay child support often list a number of excuses, said Barry Miller, chief of state child support enforcement services. "The first and foremost plea every time they go before the judge is that they don't have a job, whether they do or not," said Miller, who thinks child services should hold court days periodically. But not having a job is not necessarily an excuse, he said. Most jobs pay unemployment, but he said people still use the lack of a job as an excuse because it's difficult to validate on a moment's notice. Miller also said parents sometimes complain that they can't visit the child or can't afford the payments. Although someone can't be held accountable if he or she is absolutely incapable of paying, Miller said there's usually a way, within reason. Child support enforcement officials have options for collecting past due payments, state officials say, including withholding income from employment compensation, worker's compensation, Social Security benefits or veteran's disability benefits; withholding money from state or federal income tax refunds; placing liens on real or personal property; or revoking professional or driver's licenses. Wednesday's event was part of the county's Child Support Month observance. Child services has been giving more attention to the collection of child support money all month, and is taking a more aggressive approach to bringing parents up to speed, officials said. The observance was launched at the end of May with a week set aside for parents to come in and make payment arrangements. Flounoy said $5,000 was collected that week. Also during May, the agency visited a federal prison, where they talked to inmates about how child support works. Flounoy said state and federal government officials have moved away in recent years from using negative terms such as absent parent. They use noncustodial parent instead. "We are trying to promote the relationship between the parents and the children," Flounoy said. "Children don't know any better. Children need both of their parents, whether they are living together or not." According to Flounoy, there are 12,000 child support cases in Durham County. And Miller added that Durham County doesn't fare better or worse than any other N.C. county, with about 38 percent of parents not paying support in any given month. In addition, a normal day's court docket lists about 150 child support cases, Flounoy said. Thirty percent of those called typically appear in court, she said -- the same percentage that appeared Wednesday. But Flounoy deemed that a success. Angela Bellamy, a child support enforcement supervisor, said one parent she spoke with Wednesday talked about how it was humiliating for him to come to court. "Hopefully, after they see this [stepped-up enforcement effort], they'll show up," Bellamy said. -SNIPPING- BY SARAH MUENCH : The Herald-Sun DURHAM -- At least 220 deadbeat parents lined up to pay overdue = child support Wednesday in the largest docket that officials said Durham = County District Court has ever seen for child support cases in a single = day.=20 Child support enforcement workers summoned 715 parents to court = Wednesday. Of that number, 31 percent turned out, and $6,547.84 in = unpaid child support was collected out of millions owed in Durham = County.=20 Hmmm...let's see (6547.84 / 220 =) almost $27.00 dollars a head. Quite impressive to say the least. I wonder how much was spent behind the scenes for this crackdown? Doesn't matter too much anyway, after all the racket they have going is really self-sustaining. Durham County's collection goal for 2003-04 was $13.4 million, = which was set by state officials to encourage more aggressive collection = efforts, local officials said. The county met that goal earlier in the = week, said Mary Flounoy, the county's program director for child support = enforcement.=20 You have to wonder what's really going on when their big crackdown nets then 6 large in a day yet they can claim after 6 months they have reached their goal of 13.4 million. I guess that's going to mean really big christmas bonuses all around for the CS department... "We're trying to be more aggressive to meet our goal, which is to = collect more child support, bottom line," Flounoy said. "The court has = ordered it, you owe it, your family needs it."=20 Why not add "we need to get our christmas bonuses to, so pay up you deadbeats"... Nearly 90 arrest warrants were issued for those who failed to = appear, Flounoy said. She said those summoned to court Wednesday were = overwhelmingly male.=20 OK so their mostly male. Note that they don't give you a number on the females, either to "unecessarily attract or detract" attention. The child support that each delinquent parent owed was listed on = Wednesday's court docket, and each was given the choice of paying all or = some of the money on the spot, setting a court date or agreeing to pay = an extra amount per month in addition to their normal monthly payment.=20 Hmmm...let's see those big choices one more time. Pay all or some - with a turn out of 27.00 a head you would think that they would accept pocket change. (Would be nice if they tell people to stop by the ATM before they come in.) Set a court date, obviously something a lot of people did when you consider the one big spender in the crowd. And lastly, my favorite choice - let's add to what you owe - even though you don't or can't pay it...oh, that's just grand. If a parent is found to be in contempt of the court's order to pay = up, he or she could serve 30 days in jail, Flounoy said.=20 Durham resident Ricky Henry Evans owed the largest overdue amount = -- $156,441.96 -- to his ex-wife and their two sons.=20 "That's the biggest I've seen, and I've been here 14 years," said = court clerk Linda Woods. "I don't understand how that ever happened."=20 According to court documents, Evans is supposed to pay $150 per = week until his youngest son is 18, plus $50 a month toward any amount = past due. Court clerks said he didn't pay any of the money Wednesday, = but he did file for a continuance and will represent himself or hire an = attorney for his Aug. 31 court date.=20 This really has just got to trip the big siren. Not just the amount, but note the statement - " That's the biggest I've seen, and I've been here 14 years," said court clerk Linda Woods. "I don't understand how that ever happened." I think there are probably a few million people who would like to know exactly how this can happen...but of course if someone actually did or could, maybe the system that's in place now would not be in place in the near future. Lynwood A. Rhodes made the biggest payment of the day -- $1,625 -- = to his son, who is in N.C. Foster Care. Rhodes' monthly child support = payment is $300, court papers show, but he owed a past due amount of = more than $5,000.=20 Fathers and mothers who don't pay child support often list a = number of excuses, said Barry Miller, chief of state child support = enforcement services.=20 "The first and foremost plea every time they go before the judge = is that they don't have a job, whether they do or not," said Miller, who = thinks child services should hold court days periodically.=20 But not having a job is not necessarily an excuse, he said. Most = jobs pay unemployment, but he said people still use the lack of a job as = an excuse because it's difficult to validate on a moment's notice.=20 Miller also said parents sometimes complain that they can't visit = the child or can't afford the payments.=20 Hmmm...just a nice one line sentence here. Don't want to attract too much attention to these issues here. (If this guy had the blue pencil for this article he'd probably cut that sentence right out of the article. Although someone can't be held accountable if he or she is = absolutely incapable of paying, Miller said there's usually a way, = within reason.=20 Child support enforcement officials have options for collecting = past due payments, state officials say, including withholding income = from employment compensation, worker's compensation, Social Security = benefits or veteran's disability benefits; withholding money from state = or federal income tax refunds; placing liens on real or personal = property; or revoking professional or driver's licenses.=20 Wednesday's event was part of the county's Child Support Month = observance. Child services has been giving more attention to the = collection of child support money all month, and is taking a more = aggressive approach to bringing parents up to speed, officials said.=20 The observance was launched at the end of May with a week set = aside for parents to come in and make payment arrangements. Flounoy said = $5,000 was collected that week. Also during May, the agency visited a = federal prison, where they talked to inmates about how child support = works.=20 Flounoy said state and federal government officials have moved = away in recent years from using negative terms such as absent parent. = They use noncustodial parent instead.=20 Ain't newspeak double plus good... "We are trying to promote the relationship between the parents and = the children," Flounoy said. "Children don't know any better. Children = need both of their parents, whether they are living together or not."=20 P.S. We still need our christmas bonuses you deadbeats... According to Flounoy, there are 12,000 child support cases in = Durham County. And Miller added that Durham County doesn't fare better = or worse than any other N.C. county, with about 38 percent of parents = not paying support in any given month.=20 In addition, a normal day's court docket lists about 150 child = support cases, Flounoy said. Thirty percent of those called typically = appear in court, she said -- the same percentage that appeared = Wednesday. But Flounoy deemed that a success.=20 Angela Bellamy, a child support enforcement supervisor, said one = parent she spoke with Wednesday talked about how it was humiliating for = him to come to court.=20 "Hopefully, after they see this [stepped-up enforcement effort], = they'll show up," Bellamy said.=20 Personally a lot of blah, blah at the end. Perhaps if someone decided to investigate the guy with the 100K arrears, maybe we could get some real insightful journalism. "WiseSarah" <sarahwise42@hotmail.com> wrote in message snippety > Fathers and mothers who don't pay child support often list a = > number of excuses, said Barry Miller, chief of state child support = [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > = > an excuse because it's difficult to validate on a moment's notice -------------------- Yep, that's why they claim not to have a job, because it's difficult to validate on a moments notice. Sheesh. ------------------- > Miller also said parents sometimes complain that they can't visit = > the child or can't afford the payments.=20 > > Hmmm...just a nice one line sentence here. Don't want to attract too much > attention to these issues here. (If this guy had the blue pencil for this > article he'd probably cut that sentence right out of the article. ------------------------- Exactly! I can't remember when I've read an article that goes in depth about cs and visitation or about how for many the payments are just too high. --------------------- > Although someone can't be held accountable if he or she is = > absolutely incapable of paying, Miller said there's usually a way, = > within reason. ------------------------- I love this! You've got someone who is "absolutely incapable of paying" and yet this idiot stills says there IS a way they can pay. And we all know what their "within reason" means. ---------------------- > Child support enforcement officials have options for collecting = > past due payments, state officials say, including withholding income = [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Ain't newspeak double plus good... ---------------- Yeah but 9 times out of 10 they still slip up and say deadbeat dad instead of deadbeat parent. --------------------- > "We are trying to promote the relationship between the parents and > = [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > investigate the guy with the 100K arrears, maybe we could get some real > insightful journalism. ----------------------- I think we should start taking these journalists to task for their incomplete and biased reporting. Ask them to do the math on some of these outrageous numbers dcs pulls out, and see for themself. ~AZ~ I apoligize that my last snipping probably left alot to be desired. Anyway, it seems nothing good can come out of the CS system until more emphasis is placed on the big numbers other than using them for "shock value." After all, I don't think were talking about a professional athlete or an actor here. If you want to do something useful, explain to us all how that number got so big in the first place. There's one nice clue about how they like to write about the issue. Note that they use small amounta (150 a week, 50 a month) to entice the readers into thinking that it's a pittance. At a rate of 700 a month (for the combined amount, 8,400 a year) you get a greater appreciation for those numbers. doh!. I shot the post off below yesterday morning in haste without proof reading. After scanning new messages I now see the actual tone did not come across and an error in one word that may cause someone to misinterpret the meaning. So to correct: This was supposed to be "where these bastards" with the response being a sarcastic tone not to the poster but in context to the comment of debtors prison being outlawed since the Revolutionary War. >"Don" <don@free> wrote in message news:... > Hopefully the next American revolution is not too far off and these bastards > will pay for their crimes against fathers and children the same as has > previous tyrants and oppressors throughout history. Post was intended as only a sarcastic observation. To chose better words, an observation based on history of what may happen years from now if the laws are not changed. Since no society in history puts up with this stuff for very long without holding these types accountable as has happened to other oppressors and tyrants throughout history. Hopefully I will not see that in my life time but legislative changes instead. The worst time not to proof read with everything going on these days and later the same day I see we now have some a.shole advocating their violent hate sh.t in the same newsgroup. I think I need a Bob disclaimer. Perhaps [Don is a patriotic, I love America, pro-Bush, pro-war on terror, fathers rights advocate, read at your own risk, not to be confused with the other Don] Don > > Editor -- Child Support News wrote: > > > The county is calling hundreds of parents into court to get [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > > > > > DURHAM -- Social workers have summoned as many as 713 suspected deadbeat > > > parents to court today in the largest child-support roundup in Durham > > > County history. [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > > > There is no justice under law in South Carolina, only slavery and prisons. > > Bob |
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