The Senate Judiciary committee heard testimony tonight on a child support bill introduced by Senator Jeff Smith (D - St. Louis).The bill would establish courts to handle some criminal non-support cases. Patterned after the extremely successful Jackson County Fathering Court, the law would provide an alternative to a jail sentence and felony record for the non-custodial parents who qualify for rehabilitation.
The program is holistic -- it looks at the education, substance abuse, employment and parenting skills of the participant. A case manager is involved, as well as peer support, counseling and treatment. The program's goal is to increase the number of fathers who participate in the lives of their children -- both financially and emotionally.
We heard some compelling testimony tonight from many fathers in the St. Louis area who have not had the benefit of the Fathering Court on their side of the state. These are men who are going through a similar fathering program, without the incarceration alternatives. At least one of the men served a year for non-support, a time when he could not work any job to provide assistance to his daughter. Faced with a felony on his criminal record, job prospects are slim. If a Fathering Court had been available to him in St. Louis, there is a chance he could have avoided jail, kept his record clean, found gainful employment and most importantly, provided support to his daughter. Luckily, he found out about a non-profit fathering program while he was in jail, and he is finally able to support his daughter financially, while learning what it means to be a dad.
As with anything, the devil is in the details. Some prosecutors were at the hearing tonight to testify against certain provisions of the bill, but it sounds as if some of the objectionable provisions will be taken out of future versions. I look forward to continuing the discussion as session moves forward.
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2 comments:
Keep us up on this......please
I just heard about this as that today the Jackson County Leg. voted to give $25K to the project. I have NO idea what this is about. So how much leeway are we giving these dead beats? I mean really? What about the serial deadbeats who have not only not paid their child support, but have left the children with a sense of abandonment; repeatedly? What sort of protection is in play here when it comes to the children and “Daddy or Mommy” coming back into their lives? So because Daddy/Mommy plays the “I’m sorry ticket” they gets to come back around and put the kids through more drama; or better yet... teach them bad habits or how to become another future deadbeat? I don't buy this crap! You father a child, you know you are the father of said child. You walk away from this responsibility and leave others [read; taxpayers and other said responsible parties] to pick up your slack while you run around and "play", meanwhile, the kiddos are on welfare, mothers or fathers can barley survive... but wait; there is recompense... say you feel bad and you get a "get out of jail free' card?
So why do we not all just raise our kids to fend for themselves? Forget conscientiousness, forget our SOCIAL CONTRACT because apparently; especially in Missouri it does not apply to children’s rights or custodial parents doing the right thing?
Bottom line? They need to implement a weekend jail for these deadbeats with no recourse until the arrearage is paid off. I have read some of the nonsense about this “reverse psychology” or giving some a chance. I believe that this would only apply to VERY FEW of these deadbeats. I would very much like to see statistics on this and a clearer picture of what qualifies said “parent” to be allowed such “grace”? Some articles have stated that the further in debt these deadbeats become, the further underground they go. So we sit and do NOTHING? Of course they will move into the underground, that’s what criminals who do not want to play by the rules DO; what’s new? [which these rules there IS NO “grey area”; pretty much black and white! Unless you have a genetic test that is iffy?!?]
Women and children are still treated as chattel in this state… I understand there are males left holding the bag too… but there is a disparity between the two that is rather clear.
So as long as the tax payers don’t take this seriously, not only are they forking out party time for these deadbeats out of their own pockets.. Not to mention, those kiddos who are left living in an impoverished environment are not going to be very fun when they are the larger of the vote….or better yet… they will get the picture loud and clear, no sense in following the rules -- the law means nothing.
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