DOCSLIB.ORG

DC Appleseed Report 807-1.Indd

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
DC Appleseed Report 807-1.Indd Taking Care of the District’s Children The Need to Reform DC’s Child Support System August 2007 A Report by: DC Appleseed Center for Law and Justice Crowell & Moring LLP Kilpatrick Stockton LLP DC Appleseed Taking Care of the District’s Children: The Need to Reform DC’s Child Support System A Report by: DC Appleseed Center for Law and Justice Crowell & Moring LLP Kilpatrick Stockton LLP August 2007 DC Appleseed i Acknowledgements DC Appleseed would like to thank our Walter Smith, Josh Levinson, Desmond partners in this project, the wonderful pro Riley, Chris Laskowski, Mary Jane Goodrick, bono legal teams from Crowell & Moring Karen Schneider, James Jones, and Tawana LLP and Kilpatrick Stockton LLP. They Stewart. Special thanks to former DC participated in shaping and conducting Appleseed staff members Dorothy Smith the research, as well as drafting, editing, and Deborah Spitz who initially staffed and designing this report. Special thanks the Child Support Project. DC Appleseed to the team leaders at each firm: Stephen Interns Erica Ban, Sean Griffith, Leah Baskin, Svetlana Gans, and Laura Mow Greenglass, Sarah Schultz, Erica Stevens, from Kilpatrick Stockton, and Marc Fred Wyshak, and DC Appleseed Volunteer Efron and John McCarthy from Crowell Sandy Shapiro also contributed to & Moring. Members of the project team the research. from Kilpatrick Stockton include: Kevin Noble, Saadeh Al-Jurf, Stewart Fried, We would also like to thank Attorney Eric Sophir, Matt Olson, Jim Mecone and General Linda Singer, former Attorney Tracie Siddiqui. Members of the project General Robert Spagnoletti, Chief Deputy team from Crowell & Moring include: Attorney General Eugene Adams, Deputy Linda Bruggeman, Shauna Alonge, Denise Attorney General Benidia Rice, and the Giardina, Mike Russell, and Amy Laderberg management staff of the Office of the O’Sullivan. Their collective generosity Attorney General Child Support Services made this project possible. We would also Division for their willingness to work with like to thank Alicia Hogges-Thomas of us and for the time they spent helping us to Bryan Cave LLP for donating her time to better understand the child support system do research for us. in DC. Thanks are also owed to all of the court personnel, DC government officials, In addition we would like to thank the community service providers, policy members of the DC Appleseed Board experts, private attorneys, and parents who who helped guide this project, Shelley shared their knowledge and perspectives Broderick, Nicholas Fels, and BB Otero, with us. as well as board members Sheldon Cohen, Gary Epstein, and Amy Rifkind who We are grateful to Michael Bonfigli (www. provided feedback on early drafts. We bonfigliphoto.com) for permission to use also want to thank the members of our some of his photographs. Advisory Panel who answered questions and provided feedback at key points in Finally, DC Appleseed is grateful the process: Eric Angel, Curt Child, Chris to the Fannie Mae Foundation, the Hart-Wright, Jeff Johnson, Angela Jones, Meyer Foundation, and the Morris and Su Sie Ju, David Pate, Paula Roberts, Judith Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, whose Sandalow, and Priscilla Skillman. generous support helped make this report possible. Many thanks go to our colleagues at DC Appleseed for their feedback and support: ii Project Team Leaders Stephen Baskin, Partner, Kilpatrick Stockton LLP Judy Berman, Deputy Director, DC Appleseed Maura Boyce, Program Associate, DC Appleseed Marc Efron, Partner, Crowell & Moring LLP Svetlana Gans, Associate, Kilpatrick Stockton LLP John McCarthy, Counsel, Crowell & Moring LLP Laura Mow, Partner, Kilpatrick Stockton LLP Walter Smith, Executive Director, DC Appleseed DC Appleseed is a non-partisan, non- Kilpatrick Stockton LLP is a full-service profit advocacy organization dedicated to international law firm with more than making the District of Columbia and the 500 attorneys in nine offices across Washington Metropolitan area a better the globe: Atlanta, Augusta, Charlotte, place to live and work. We work on issues Raleigh, Winston-Salem, New York, from health care to voting representation Washington, DC, London, and Stockholm. to education reform to environmental Kilpatrick Stockton attorneys call upon concerns to jobs and housing. Working their experience in various areas of law, with volunteer attorneys, business leaders including antitrust, litigation, corporate, and community experts, we identify the construction, intellectual property, issues, conduct research and analysis, make and telecommunications, to provide specific recommendations for reform, knowledgeable and proactive counsel to and advocate effective solutions. Our companies at every stage of the business experienced staff organizes project teams cycle. Kilpatrick Stockton has also been and leverages thousands of hours of pro nationally recognized for its commitment bono time. to pro bono service. In 2006, the firm delivered 30,000 hours of pro bono work, Crowell & Moring LLP is a full-service law valued at $9.2 million. firm with more than 350 lawyers practicing in litigation, antitrust, government contracts, corporate, intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, and more. Based in Washington, DC, the firm also has offices in California, New York, London, and Brussels. The firm contributes more than 21,000 hours annually on pro bono matters -- a more than $4 million investment - and has twice been honored as Pro Bono Firm of the Year in Washington, DC. iii DC Appleseed Staff and Board of Directors Staff: Judy Berman, Deputy Director Maura Boyce, Program Associate Mary Jane Goodrick, Anacostia Watershed and River Restoration Project Director James Jones, Senior Program Associate Chris Laskowski, Program Associate Desmond Riley, Director of Development Karen Schneider, HIV/AIDS Project Director Walter Smith, Executive Director Tawana Stewart, Office Manager Board of Directors*: Chair: Richard B. Herzog, Harkins Cunningham LLP Vice-Chair: Patricia A. Brannan, Hogan & Hartson LLP Vice-Chair: Gary M. Epstein, Latham & Watkins LLP Secretary: Deborah M. Royster, Pepco Holdings, Inc. Treasurer: Peter D. Ehrenhaft, Harkins Cunningham LLP Past Chair: Daniel M. Singer, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP Past Chair: Nicholas W. Fels, Covington & Burling LLP Executive Committee: Jon S. Bouker, Arent Fox LLC Executive Committee: Lois J. Schiffer, Attorney Katherine S. Broderick, UDC David A. Clarke School of Law Patrick S. Campbell, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP Deborah Chollet, Mathematica Policy Research Sheldon S. Cohen, Farr, Miller & Washington, LLC Annemargaret Connolly, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP Bert T. Edwards, Office of Historic Trust Accounting Curtis Etherly, Coca-Cola Enterprises Bottling Companies James H. Hammond, Jr., Deloitte & Touche LLP Robert F. Levey, Journalist Edward M. Levin, Legal Consultant iv DC Appleseed Board of Directors continued John W. Nields, Howrey LLP James Rathvon, DLA Piper USA LLP Gary Ratner, Citizens for Effective Schools, Inc. Amy Rifkind, Arnold & Porter LLP Michael C. Rogers, MedStar Health Margaret Singleton, DC Chamber of Commerce Stanley M. Spracker, Levine School of Music Lawrence R. Walders, Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP Roderic L. Woodson, Holland & Knight LLP *Affiliations listed only for purposes of identification v Table of Contents Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................ii ■ Part I: Summary .......................................................................................................11 Executive Summary ....................................................................................................13 Summary of Findings and Recommendations ..........................................................60 Improving Services to Parents ................................................................................19 Improving the Role of the Court ...........................................................................22 Improving Administration of CSSD .......................................................................23 ■ Part II: Background ..................................................................................................27 Methodology ...............................................................................................................29 Report Structure .........................................................................................................32 History and Statutory Framework of the Child Support System ..............................34 Introduction ............................................................................................................34 Overview ..................................................................................................................34 Paternity Establishment ..........................................................................................35 Enforcement & Collection .....................................................................................36 Interstate Enforcement & Collection ....................................................................37 Medical Support ......................................................................................................38 Arrears and Modification of Orders ......................................................................39 Interagency Collaboration ......................................................................................40 State Flexibility
Load more

Recommended publications
  • TENTH REPORT Independent Monitor for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Reporting Period
    Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1943 Filed 02/10/17 Page 1 of 237 TENTH REPORT Independent Monitor for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Reporting Period – Third Quarter 2016 Robert S. Warshaw Independent Monitor February 10, 2017 Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS Document 1943 Filed 02/10/17 Page 2 of 237 Table of Contents Section 1: Introduction…………………………………………………...……..3 Section 2: Methodology and Compliance Summary…………………………...5 Section 3: Implementation Unit Creation and Documentation Request………..8 Section 4: Policies and Procedures……………………..………………….….12 Section 5: Pre-Planned Operations………………………………..…….……..41 Section 6: Training………………………………………………………….....46 Section 7: Traffic Stop Documentation and Data Collection……………..…...58 Section 8: Early Identification System (EIS)………….………………..…......95 Section 9: Supervision and Evaluation of Officer Performance…….…….....123 Section 10: Misconduct and Complaints…………………………………......143 Section 11: Community Engagement………………………………………...148 Section 12: Misconduct Investigations, Discipline, and Grievances………...155 Section 13: Community Outreach and Community Advisory Board………..214 Section 14: Supervision and Staffing………………………………………...215 Section 15: Document Preservation and Production…………………………218 Section 16: Additional Training……………………………………………...220 Section 17: Complaints and Misconduct Investigations Relating to Members of the Plaintiff Class………………………………....221 Section 18: Concluding Remarks………………………………………….....235 Appendix: Acronyms………………………………………………………...237 Page 2 of 237 Case 2:07-cv-02513-GMS
    [Show full text]
  • Copyrighted Material
    30_558307 bindex.qxd 1/24/05 6:52 PM Page 351 Index testing for, 90, 223 • Numerics • workplace and, 229 401(k) plan, 244, 245, 248, 251 alcohol testing, 114, 115 403(b) plan, 245 alibi, 318 alimony, 63 All Handicapped Children Act, 230 • A • American Bankruptcy Institute (Web site), 184 abortion, 74 American Bar Association, 30 abuse and neglect of children, 78, 141 American Prepaid Legal Services Institute accelerated life insurance benefits, 302 (APLSI), 42 accidents, 103, 113–114 Americans with Disabilities Act, 105, 160 act of delinquency, 330 Annual Credit Report Request Service acting as your own attorney, 34, 46, 312 (Web site), 174 adjudicated delinquent, 330 annulment, marriage, 58 adjudicated minor, 330 AOA (Administration on Aging), 262 adjustable rate mortgage, 212 appeal Administration on Aging (AOA), 262 criminal, 326–327 administrative law, 11 grounds for, 24 adoption small claims court, 33 fathers and, 81 appellate court, 13 options for adoptee, 82 appraiser, home, 205 overview, 79–80 arbitration, 28, 30 traditional (or closed) versus open, 82 arraignment, 315 types of, 80–81 arrest Adoption.com, 80 avoid arguing with police, 342 advance directive, 294 being formally charged, 315–316 adversarial process, 15 getting booked, 313–314 affirmative action, 89 going to jail, 314–315, 327 agreement. See also contract interrogation and the Miranda cohabitation, 50–53 warning, 311 home listing, 203–204 juvenile’s rights during, 330–331 joint custody, 65–66COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL legal help, 312 partnership, 151–152, 343–344 making
    [Show full text]
  • Interstate Child Support Enforcement After United States V. Lopez
    COMMENTS MAKING PARENTS PAY: INTERSTATE CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT AFTER UNITED STATES V. LOPEZ KATHLEEN A. BURDETTEt INTRODUCTION When Jeffrey Nichols, a wealthy consultant, decided to divorce his wife of sixteen years in order to marry a younger woman, he was ordered to pay $9000 a month in support for his three children.' Believing that the children's grandfather would support them, Nichols ignored his child support obligations and, instead, lived in luxury with his second wife for over five years.2 After cleaning out his accounts in New York, where the children and his ex-wife still reside, he moved to Toronto.3 In an attempt to evade law enforce- ment officials who make it their business to search for "deadbeat dads," Nichols then moved to Boca Raton, Florida and later to Vermont.4 He also attempted to conceal some of his assets by placing them in his second wife's name and in offshore accounts that could not be traced.5 The law finally caught up with Nichols when his second wife, in the process of filing for divorce, signed an affidavit stating that Nichols had been avoiding child support payments for five years.' Nichols, who spent four months in a New York jail,7 owes more t" B.A. 1994, Cornell University;J.D. Candidate 1997, University of Pennsylvania. I would like to thank Professor Seth Kreimer for listening to my ideas at various stages of their development. I am also grateful to my Law Review editors, Pamela Reichlin, Karin Guiduli, and Laura Boschken, for their suggestions. Special thanks to David Shields, who has encouraged me throughout my time at the Law School.
    [Show full text]
  • 2016 Showdown? Evan the Hesitant Needs More Time to De- Former Governor Cide Whether He’Ll Try to Still Undecided on Recapture His Old Job
    V19, N41 Tuesday, July 8, 2014 2016 Showdown? Evan the hesitant needs more time to de- Former governor cide whether he’ll try to still undecided on recapture his old job. “I think it’s less likely a challenge to than more likely,” he said. “I haven’t ruled it Gov. Pence out.” Bayh cited family By MAUREEN HAYDEN as the reason for delay, CNHI Statehouse Bureau during a recent interview WASHINGTON – Evan in the Washington D.C. Bayh is keeping Indiana Demo- offices of McGuireWoods, crats on hold. a law and lobbying firm Party loyalists longing he joined when he left for a political savior to retake the Senate. He’s been the governor’s office have been busy advising the firm’s waiting on Bayh ever since he banking and energy abruptly decided to leave the clients, in addition to U.S. Senate and political life his work with a New three years ago. York private equity firm, For now, it appears, Apollo Global Manage- they’ll just have to keep waiting, ment, and with stint as a perhaps well into this fall. Fox News contributor. Despite a hefty cam- Former two-term Gov. Evan Bayh attended Gov. Mike Pence’s 2013 His twin sons, paign war chest and deep nos- inaugural. He is now weighing a challenge to the Republican, who talgia for his days as a popular may opt out for a presidential bid. Continued on page 4 centrist Democrat, Bayh says he ‘Deadbeat parent’ state By BRIAN A. HOWEY FREMONT, Ind. – In his State of the State address last January, Gov.
    [Show full text]
  • Supreme Court of the United States
    Nos. 14-556, 14-562, 14-571 and 14-574 IN THE Supreme Court of the United States JAMES OBERGEFELL, ET AL., AND BRITTANI HENRY, ET AL., PETITIONERS, v. RICHARD HODGES, DIRECTOR, OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, ET AL., RESPONDENTS. VALERIA TANCO, ET AL., PETITIONERS, v. WILLIAM EDWARD “BILL” HASLAM, GOVERNOR OF TENNESSEE, ET AL., RESPONDENTS. APRIL DEBOER, ET AL., PETITIONERS, v. RICK SNYDER, GOVERNOR OF MICHIGAN, ET AL., RESPONDENTS. GREGORY BOURKE, ET AL., AND TIMOTHY LOVE, ET AL., PETITIONERS, v. STEVE BESHEAR, GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY, ET AL., RESPONDENT On Writs of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit _____________ AMICUS BRIEF OF THE CLEVELAND CHORAL ARTS ASSOCIATION INC A/K/A THE NORTH COAST MEN’S CHORUS IN SUPPORT OF PETITIONERS Harlan D. Karp Tina R. Haddad Counsel of Record 3155 W.33rd St. 850 Euclid Ave. #1330 Cleveland, OH 44109 Cleveland, OH 44114 (216) 281-5210 (216) 685-1360 [email protected] [email protected] Attorneys for Amicus Curiae i Questions Presented 1) Does the Fourteenth Amendment require a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex? 2) Does the Fourteenth Amendment require a state to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-state? ii Table of Contents Page Questions Presented. i Table of Contents. ii Table of Authorities. iv Interest of Amicus Curiae. 1 Introduction and Statement. 2 Summary of Argument.. 7 Argument. 8 I. Where The Record Contains Explicit Statements Of Private Bias Against The Targeted Group, This Court Has Found The Presence Of Unconstitutional Animus.
    [Show full text]
  • Child Support Enforcement
    CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES OF THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED SIXTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION MAY 18, 2000 Serial 106±82 Printed for the use of the Committee on Ways and Means ( U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 66±898 CC WASHINGTON : 2001 For sale by the U.S. Government Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Sales Office, Washington, DC 20402 VerDate 20-JUL-2000 12:40 Jan 09, 2001 Jkt 060010 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 K:\HEARINGS\66898.TXT WAYS1 PsN: WAYS1 COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS BILL ARCHER, Texas, Chairman PHILIP M. CRANE, Illinois CHARLES B. RANGEL, New York BILL THOMAS, California FORTNEY PETE STARK, California E. CLAY SHAW, JR., Florida ROBERT T. MATSUI, California NANCY L. JOHNSON, Connecticut WILLIAM J. COYNE, Pennsylvania AMO HOUGHTON, New York SANDER M. LEVIN, Michigan WALLY HERGER, California BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland JIM MCCRERY, Louisiana JIM MCDERMOTT, Washington DAVE CAMP, Michigan GERALD D. KLECZKA, Wisconsin JIM RAMSTAD, Minnesota JOHN LEWIS, Georgia JIM NUSSLE, Iowa RICHARD E. NEAL, Massachusetts SAM JOHNSON, Texas MICHAEL R. MCNULTY, New York JENNIFER DUNN, Washington WILLIAM J. JEFFERSON, Louisiana MAC COLLINS, Georgia JOHN S. TANNER, Tennessee ROB PORTMAN, Ohio XAVIER BECERRA, California PHILIP S. ENGLISH, Pennsylvania KAREN L. THURMAN, Florida WES WATKINS, Oklahoma LLOYD DOGGETT, Texas J.D. HAYWORTH, Arizona JERRY WELLER, Illinois KENNY HULSHOF, Missouri SCOTT MCINNIS, Colorado RON LEWIS, Kentucky MARK FOLEY, Florida A.L. SINGLETON, Chief of Staff JANICE MAYS, Minority Chief Counsel SUBCOMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES NANCY L. JOHNSON, Connecticut, Chairman PHILIP S.
    [Show full text]
  • DSS 2013 Annual Report
    Nassau County Department of Social Services Edward P. Mangano, County Executive John E. Imhof Ph.D., Commissioner Annual Report 2013 Artistic rendition of the Nassau County DSS customer service lobby at 60 Charles Lindbergh Blvd. in Uniondale, NY I. Message from the County Executive Nassau County Legislature 1550 Franklin Ave. Mineola, NY 11501 516-571-6200 Norma L. Gonsalves, Presiding Officer, LD 13 Kevan Abrahams, LD 1 Siela Bynoe, LD 2 Carrié Solages, LD 3 Denise Ford, LD 4 A Message from County Executive Ed Mangano: Laura Curran, LD 5 I am pleased to present the 2013 Annual Report of the Nassau County Department of Social Services (DSS). As a longtime public servant, I Francis X. Becker Jr., LD 6 understand the many challenges facing government, especially during times of economic stress and crises. As the safety net for our residents who Howard J. Kopel, LD 7 are facing economic distress, DSS and all of its dedicated staff perform an extraordinary job addressing the needs of individuals and families throughout our County. Vincent T. Muscarella, LD 8 Nassau County DSS has proven to be one of the most innovative and Richard J. Nicolello, LD 9 forward-thinking human services agencies in the nation, consistently enhancing its services and programs through on-going quality management Ellen Birnbaum, LD 10 initiatives that advocate innovation and efficiency in these days of limited financial resources. Of special note is the extensive efforts I have supported Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, LD 11 to root out Medicaid waste, fraud and abuse. In 2013, DSS fraud investigators uncovered $18 million in recipient and provider fraud, waste Michael Venditto, LD 12 and abuse across all program areas.
    [Show full text]
  • The Paternity Test and the Cultural Logic of Paternity
    WHO'S YOUR DADDY? THE PATERNITY TEST AND THE CULTURAL LOGIC OF PATERNITY by Kathalene A. Razzano A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of George Mason University in Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Cultural Studies Director Program Director Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences Date: );! Spring Semester 2012 George Mason University Fairfax, VA Who’s Your Daddy?: The Paternity Test and the Cultural Logic of Paternity A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at George Mason University by Kathalene A. Razzano Master of Arts The Pennsylvania State University, 1997 Bachelor of Arts University of Maryland, College Park, 1995 Director: Timothy Gibson, Professor Department of Communication Spring Semester 2012 George Mason University Fairfax, VA This work is licensed under a creative commons attribution-noderivs 3.0 unported license. ii DEDICATION This is dedicated to those I’ve lost along the way; my teachers, mentors and friends Joe L. Kincheloe, Peter Brunette, and Jeanne Hall; my step-mother Linda Razzano; and my Pop, Gabriel Razzano. I miss each of you but carry you on with me. I also dedicate this dissertation to my Grammies, Audrey Razzano. She’s been waiting for me to (finally) finish so that she can call me “Doctor.” iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank the many friends, relatives, and supporters who have made this happen. Since I’ve been doing this a while, I have a number of people to thank. First, I must thank my dissertation chair Tim Gibson who has been unbelievably supportive, helpful and productively critical.
    [Show full text]
  • Phoenix Law Review
    PHOENIX LAW REVIEW VOLUME 7FALL 2013 NUMBER 1 Published by Phoenix School of Law Phoenix, Arizona 85004 Published by Phoenix Law Review, Phoenix School of Law, One North Central Avenue,14th Floor, Phoenix, Arizona 85004. Phoenix Law Review welcomes the submission of manuscripts on any legal topic and from all members of the legal community. Submissions can be made via ExpressO at http://law.bepress.com/expresso, via e-mail to [email protected], or via postal service to: Submissions Editor Phoenix Law Review Phoenix School of Law 1 North Central Avenue 14th Floor Phoenix, Arizona 85004 We regret that manuscripts cannot be returned. All submissions should conform to the rules of citation contained in the most recent edition of The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citations, published by the Harvard Law Review Association. Phoenix Law Review is published twice each year or more by the Phoenix School of Law. Subscription rates are $50.00 per year for United States addresses and $64.00 per year for addresses in other countries. Subscriptions are renewed automatically unless notice to cancel is received. Subscriptions may be discontinued only at the expiration of the current volume. Direct all communications to the Administrative Editor at the address given above. Copyright © 2013 by Phoenix Law Review on all articles, comments, and notes, unless otherwise expressly indicated. Phoenix Law Review grants per- mission for copies of articles, comments, and notes on which it holds a copy- right to be made and used by nonprofit educational institutions, provided that the author and Phoenix Law Review are identified and proper notice is affixed to each copy.
    [Show full text]
  • Hitting Deadbeat Parents Where It Hurts: Punitive Mechanisms in Child Support Enforcement
    NOTES Hitting Deadbeat Parents Where it Hurts: "Punitive" Mechanisms in Child Support Enforcement This Note discusses the crisis created by "problem parents" who fail to meet their child support obligations. Alaska has not es- caped this crisis. This Note traces the efforts in Alaska to exact payment from child support obligors through both civil and criminal provisions. In particular,it discusses the recent expan- sion of criminalprovisions, including the criminalizationof aiding and abetting nonpayment of child support obligations and the suspension, revocation or denial of driver's and occupational li- censes. The Note suggests several ways in which Alaska can strengthen its criminalprovisions to improve enforcement, and it analyzes the constitutionality of Alaska's license revoca- tion/suspension provisions. Finally, the Note suggests another method by which to increase the rate of child support payment, namely the use of "most wanted" lists. I. INTRODUCTION The crisis in child support in the United States, and in Alaska, is one of immense proportions. This crisis can be traced directly to the failure of numerous noncustodial parents to make their child support payments. In 1992, only 54% of single-parent families with children had an established child support order.' Of those families, only about one-half received the full amount due.2 Stud- ies indicate that two-fifths of divorced fathers in the United States Copyright © 1997 by Alaska Law Review 1. See H.R. CONF. REP. No. 104-430, § 101(4) (1995), available in 1995 WL 767839, at *21. This statistic does not indicate that the remaining 46% of single- parent families have no method of child support.
    [Show full text]
  • Prenatal Abandonment: 'Horton Hatches the Egg' in the Supreme Court and Thirty-Four States Mary M
    University of Missouri School of Law Scholarship Repository Faculty Publications 2017 Prenatal Abandonment: 'Horton Hatches the Egg' in the Supreme Court and Thirty-Four States Mary M. Beck University of Missouri School of Law, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarship.law.missouri.edu/facpubs Part of the Family Law Commons Recommended Citation 24 Mich. J. Gender & L. 53 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by University of Missouri School of Law Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of University of Missouri School of Law Scholarship Repository. PRENATAL ABANDONMENT: 'HORTON HATCHES THE EGG' IN THE SUPREME COURT AND THIRTY-FOUR STATES (Jvfary (,W 'Beck* This article addresses an issue critical to forty-one percent of fathers in the United States: prenatalabandonment. Under prenatal abandonment theory, fathers can lose their parental rights to non- marital children if they do not provide prenatal support to the mothers of their children. This is true even if the mothers have not notified the fathers of the pregnancy and if the mothers or fathers are unsure of the fathers'paternity. While this result may seem counter- intuitive, it is necessitated by demographic trends. Prenatalaban- donment theory has been structured to protect mothers, fathers, and fetuses in response to a number of socialfactors: the link between pregnancy and increased rates of sexual assault, domestic violence, and domestic homicide; the high non-marital birth rate; the com- monality of casualsexual relationships;the likelihood that non-mar- ital children will live in poverty; and poverty s deleterious effects upon children.
    [Show full text]
  • Reforming Child Support to Improve Outcomes for Children and Families by Vicki Turetsky
    The Abell Report Published by the Abell Foundation June 2019 | Volume 32 | Number 5 Reforming Child Support to Improve Outcomes for Children and Families by Vicki Turetsky TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................................... 2 What is the child support program? .................................................................................................................. 4 Who does the child support program serve? ................................................................................................... 5 Why can child support collection be a problem for low-income families? .................................................... 7 II. CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES: SETTING ACCURATE ORDERS ........................................................................ 8 How well do orders reflect ability to pay? ......................................................................................................... 9 Do self-support reserves meet subsistence needs? ...................................................................................... 11 Do parents comply with support orders based on “potential” income? ..................................................... 12 What is “voluntary impoverishment”? .............................................................................................................. 14 What are “discretionary orders”? .....................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]