Laws against deadbeat dads not being enforced
To the editor:
New Jersey’s decisive efforts to prosecute deadbeat parents have resulted in the arrests of over 1,221 individuals, owing a staggering $25 million in child support arrears. Bravo to the state for collecting $224,088.36 in funds.
However, I feel the need to take the time to break these statistics down into more realistic terms. Simple math tells me that dividing the sum collected by the parents arrested results in an average payment of $183.53 per person when, if utilizing the same formula, each of those deadbeats owed their children and average of $20,795. The facts don’t seem so impressive when the realization hits that each of those arrests likely yielded enough to pay for a week’s worth of groceries and a haircut for each child. Furthermore, this extensive raid, which was likely funded with taxpayer dollars, resulted in custodial parents receiving less than 1 percent of what they are entitled to.
I know this because my ex-husband was arrested Aug. 19, and I attended a hearing scheduled to address the various instances of noncompliance stemming from the court order that resulted in his arrest. This order dictated that there must be wage garnishment, a one missed payment bench warrant status, payment of counsel fees and a lump sum payment of nearly $8,000 to address the $34,000 in arrears. None of these issues have been resolved. In fact, while attending yet another pointless hearing on Sept. 2, when I asked the judge to enforce the order, I was informed that he could not. How is it possible that a judge cannot enforce an order in a court of law?
Now that I am aware of how broken this system is, I would like to apologize for wasting the precious time of the judges, probation officers and sheriffs on trivial issues like feeding and clothing my son.
I would also like to apologize to all of the deadbeat parents out there for not writing this letter sooner, for I may have been able to assist them in their continued efforts to circumvent and manipulate the child support system. I am sorry that you may have been wholly unaware that words like mandatory and court order are just that — words, worth little more than the paper they are written on.
I am also deeply sorry to all of the single, working parents who exist paycheck to paycheck, spending all of their time, money and energy making up for the aforementioned “parents” and their total lack of involvement. I apologize if you have wasted time and money filing court motions that result in meaningless stacks of paper and marginal relief. I am sorry on behalf of the individuals who have met your calls and emails and letters requesting enforcement with a condescending tone and dismissive attitude. I am sorry for your tears, anger, late nights, long days, empty bank accounts and cheated children. I am very sorry that you will have to work even more because your child’s other parent works less, and this system doesn’t work at all.
I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the many, forgotten children who are forced to go without. I am so sorry that you may be hungry or angry or lonely. I am sorry because you deserve more and you should have better.
Last but not least, I would like to offer my sincerest apologies to the State of New Jersey. I am very sorry for expecting more for my child, from his father and from the powers that be. Thank you for conducting semi-annual child support sweeps but I am very sorry to inform you that, with all due respect, you missed a spot.
Jen Eville
Hillsborough
