Published: 03-18-08
Sheriff Chris Kirk arrests 14 parents in countywide sweep
BRYAN – Brazos County Sheriff Chris Kirk has arrested 14 local parents who violated court orders requiring them to pay child support. The countywide sweep which was conducted in conjunction with Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s Child Support Division targets parents who are wanted by authorities for failing to pay their court-ordered child support.
“Parents have a moral and legal obligation to make regular child support payments” Attorney General Abbott said. “By collecting child support we are ensuring young Texans have the resources they need to grow healthy and strong. We are grateful to Sheriff Chris Kirk for his commitment to Texas children.”
The sweep represents an intense effort by the Brazos County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) to track down parents who are wanted for contempt of court as a result of their failure to pay child support in cases handled by the Texas Office of the Attorney General. This morning’s operation kicked off at 6 a.m. when the sheriff dispatched teams of deputies to arrest the noncompliant parents before they had a chance to leave their homes for the day.
Delinquent parents arrested in the roundup face up to six months in jail. Cash bonds parents post to get out of jail are paid to the custodial parents and children who are owed back child support.
Parents who have outstanding warrants can avoid the embarrassment of arrest at their home or work by calling the BCSO Special Services Division at 979-361-4920. Parents without warrants who have fallen behind on their child support payments should immediately contact the Attorney General’s Child Support Division at 1-800-252-8014 to make payment arrangements.
Under state and federal law the Office of the Attorney General is obligated to assist families who request child support services as well as families who currently receive or have received public assistance. Services offered by the Child Support Division include locating absent parents; establishing paternity for children born to unmarried parents; establishing enforcing and modifying child and medical support orders; and collecting and distributing child support payments.
Statewide child support collected by the Office of the Attorney General exceeded $2.3 billion for the state fiscal year that ended Aug. 31 2007. Montgomery County parents received $24 million of that amount.
