• 22
  • February
    2012

Valentine's Day wasn't so sweet for 11 men arrested in DuPage County for failing to make court-ordered child support payments. The arrests were part of "Operation Love 2," where teams searched for 43 parents behind on their child support obligations, collectively owing $1.3 million.

This year's roundup of parents behind on Illinois child support payments was similar to an effort in February 2011, which resulted in 15 arrests of parents owing a cumulative $660,000.

The DuPage County State's Attorney said that, "In these difficult economic times, single-parent families rely on that income to provide even the basic necessities for their children. My office is 100 percent committed to making sure that delinquent parents live up to their obligations and pay child support."

The 11 fathers arrested on Valentine's Day owed a combined $238,000 in back child support. The men were arrested for not following court orders, but were not criminally charged. Bail money will be put towards their child support arrears. A spokesperson for the state's attorney explained, "The idea is not to incarcerate people; it's to get them to start paying."

This operation is in addition to regular efforts by the DuPage County Child Support Enforcement Program and Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. The state's attorney's office reported that last year the agencies worked together to collect over $40 million in child support payments.

Parents who need help obtaining or modifying a child support order may contact an attorney for assistance.

Source: Daily Herald, DuPage nabs 11 'deadbeat' dads in Valentines roundup, Josh Stockinger, 15 February 2012