BREAKING THE “CYCLE” - WICSEC.docVIP

BREAKING THE “CYCLE” BY USING ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION The threat of going to jail or going to jail for failure to pay child support is just a temporary “fix” that most District Court Judges us in collecting child support. The daunting task of trying to persuade non-custodial parents to work and pay their child support obligation is one of the most difficult as judges listen eight hours a day to the most depressing cases from the hardest to serve population. THE “CYCLE” The “Cycle” is a familiar one. Dad is ordered to pay child support, Dad doesn’t pay, Dad is issued a show cause, Dad is served, Dad comes to court, Dad is found in contempt, Dad is ordered to pay a purge or go to jail, Dad pays the purge (generally $500), Dad is released and the “cycle” repeats itself over and over again. INNOVATION In October of 1999, the state implemented a new collection procedure that mandated all child support payments under order would be received by one central location, North Carolina Child Support Collections. In order to collect child support in the most efficient and effective manner and due to the need for more consistency in disposition and docket control in the child support courtroom, Wake County focused on assigning one judge to the child support courtroom. The goal to achieve was three-fold: (1) that the consistency of one judge would result in an increase in the daily disposition of cases; (2) the amount of support collected would increase; and (3) the monthly payments received under the new statewide child support collection system would be on a more consistent monthly basis and more children would benefit financially. In July of 1999, Judge Kristin Ruth, volunteered to preside in the Wake County Child Support courtroom. Fortunately, this was a time when several resources were being funded and implemented due to the focus on the family and the Fatherhood Initiatives. Working for Kids (WFK), an employment service organization operated through Wake County