The problem is longstanding and familiar.
A couple splits up. One, usually the mother, gets primary custody of
the child or children. The other parent is required to provide monetary support.
Except that far too often they don't come through with the cash. Or only pay part of what they are supposed to and at irregular intervals.
So the custodial parent goes to court and to the state child support enforcement office. Sometimes that gets the job done. Sometimes it's just an exercise in frustration.
We have often seen those frustrations with the system expressed on social media. There are a lot of single parents out there who are struggling. Getting the child support they are legally entitled to would help a lot.
Why, they ask, isn't somebody doing something about the deadbeats?
Well, someone is.
This month the Bowie County Sheriff's Office and the Texarkana, Texas, Police Department, in conjunction with the state Child Support Division, went after those behind in their payments.
Authorities arrested 11 people last week. Another 15 were arrested earlier this month.
Similar crackdowns were conducted in 2014 and 2011.
Those arrested could get six months behind bars. If they post cash bail the money goes to custodial parents, which is as it should be.
Kudos to Sheriff James Prince and Texarkana, Texas, Police Chief Dan Shiner.
We imagine money and manpower concerns mean this can't be a full-time pursuit. But hopefully a few custodial parents will get some of the money they are due and more than a few who owe child support will get the message and start paying up.
