I'm not sure I understand this.
I can see jail for withholding money that you have (like you're earning good money and refusing to pay)... but what if you just don't have it?
Isn't that the same as debtors' prison?
And how does throwing a delinquent unemployed father in jail help get money to the mother?
Not sure I see the logic here.
You got it, basically. Child support enforcement is a big scam run by the government. 20 years of “cracking down on deabeat dads” and collections are about the same as they’ve always been, except the gubberment actually gets to handle the child support before deciding whether to turn it over to mom.
It's the Gruberment. They don't need logic.
They have gunthugs, who can shoot you in the back [off-camera] if you don't "follow orders".
Well, even if you do follow orders, but not the right ones from the three different cops who are shouting orders at you at the same time (Ask Erik Scott. Never mind, he's dead.)
According to the articles I’ve read, he was $18,000 behind in child support payments. But throwing him in jail isn’t going to produce and payments from an ongoing job, unless his wages are court-garnished for payment. As a former business owner, I went thru that court paperwork, separate checks, deadlines etc crap with 2 former employees. It puts an undue burden on the employer.
Not sure I see the logic here.
The law was originally designed to protect mothers with child custody against fathers who were employed but failed to live up to their court ordered obligations........
Unfortunately the system has no means to properly address the issues such as this that involves a chronically unemployed deadbeat dad who obviously has no intention of ever becoming a contributing member of society...........
The laws that govern you and I mean nothing to this guy and so the best place for him to be if he were still alive is in jail
“Isn’t that the same as debtors’ prison?”
Yes it is and it the only debt, aside from taxes, that you can be jailed for not paying.
And quite frankly I agree with you, it’s one thing if some one has tons of money and just won’t write the check, but if you’re some poor schmuck putting you in jail will not hasten payment, it will likely only delay it, or make it impossible altogether.
I don’t know any particulars about this man Scott and I’m just speaking in general. But, in his case, they’ll get that child support now, out of the money they’ll win in the wrongful death suit that will surely be brought. Glad it’ll work out for his kids.
In debtor’s prison an inmate worked off his debt. Jailing someone for nonpayment of child support is a punishment. Imho.