NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. -- By his own telling, the first time Walter L. Scott went to jail for failure to pay child support, it sent his life into a tailspin.
He lost what he called "the best job I ever had" when he spent two weeks in jail. Some years he paid. More recently, he had not. Two years ago, when his debt reached nearly $8,000 and he missed a court date, a warrant was issued for his arrest. By last month, the amount had more than doubled, to just over $18,000.
kAm%92E H2CC2?E[ 9:D 72>:=J ?@H DA64F=2E6D[ =@@>65 =2C86 :? $4@EEVD 562E9] ~? pAC:= c[ 96 H2D AF==65 @G6C 7@C 2 3C@<6? E2:==:89E[ 7=65 @? 7@@E 2?5[ 27E6C 2 D4F77=6 H:E9 2 A@=:46 @77:46C[ H2D 72E2==J D9@E :? E96 324<] %96 H2CC2?E[ E96 E9C62E @7 2?@E96C DE2J 369:?5 32CD 2?5 E96 A@E6?E:2= =@DD @7 J6E 2?@E96C ;@3 42FD65 9:> E@ CF?[ 2 3C@E96C[ #@5?6J $4@EE[ D2:5]k^Am
kAmQtG6CJ ;@3 96 92D 925[ 96 92D 8@EE6? 7:C65 7C@> 3642FD6 96 H6?E E@ ;2:= 3642FD6 96 H2D =@4<65 FA 7@C kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQm49:=5k^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmDFAA@CEk^DA2?m[Q D2:5 $4@EE[ H9@D6 3C@E96C H2D H@C<:?8 2D 2 7@C<=:7E @A6C2E@C H96? 96 5:65] Qw6 8@E E@ E96 A@:?E H96C6 96 76=E =:<6 :E 56762E65 E96 AFCA@D6]Qk^Am
kAm(2=E6C $4@EEVD 562E9 92D 7@4FD65 2EE6?E:@? ?@E ;FDE @? A@=:46 G:@=6?46[ 3FE @? E96 FD6 @7 ;2:= E@ AC6DDFC6 A2C6?ED E@ A2J kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQm49:=5k^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmDFAA@CEk^DA2?m[ 2 A@=:4J 6>A=@J65 3J >2?J DE2E6D E@52J] %9@F89 E96 E9C62E @7 ;2:= :D 4@?D:56C65 2? 67764E:G6 :?46?E:G6 7@C A6@A=6 H9@ 2C6 23=6 3FE F?H:==:?8 E@ A2J[ >2?J 4C:E:4D 2DD6CE E92E AF?:E:G6 A@=:4:6D 2C6 EC2AA:?8 A@@C >6? :? 2 4J4=6 @7 563E[ F?6>A=@J>6?E 2?5 :>AC:D@?>6?E]k^Am
kAm%96 AC@3=6> 368:?D H:E9 kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQm49:=5k^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmDFAA@CEk^DA2?m @C56CD E92E[ 2E E96 @FED6E[ 42? 6I4665 A2C6?EDV 23:=:EJ E@ A2J] (96? A2C6?ED 72== D9@CE[ E96 2FE9@C:E:6D 6D42=2E6 4@==64E:@? 677@CED[ H:E99@=5:?8 FA E@ ed A6C46?E @7 2 A2J4964<[ D6:K:?8 32?< 56A@D:ED 2?5 E2I C67F?5D[ DFDA6?5:?8 5C:G6CVD =:46?D6D 2?5 AC@76DD:@?2= =:46?D6D[ 2?5 E96? :>A@D:?8 ;2:= E:>6]k^Am
kAmQ!2C6?ED H9@ 2C6 ECF=J 56DE:EFE6 8@ E@ ;2:= @G6C 2?5 @G6C 282:? 7@C kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQm49:=5k^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmDFAA@CEk^DA2?m 563E D:>A=J 3642FD6 E96JVC6 A@@C[Q D2:5 $2C29 v6C289EJ[ 2 =2HJ6C H:E9 E96 $@FE96C? r6?E6C 7@C wF>2? #:89ED[ H9:49 7:=65 2 4=2DD\24E:@? =2HDF:E :? v6@C8:2 @? 3692=7 @7 A2C6?ED :?42C46C2E65 H:E9@FE =682= C6AC6D6?E2E:@? 7@C 72:=FC6 E@ A2J] Q(6 D66 >2?J 42D6D :? H9:49 E96 A6CD@? :D C6=62D65j E96JVC6 8:G6? E9C66 >@?E9D E@ A2J 2 =2C86 2>@F?E @7 >@?6J[ 2?5 E96?[ :7 E96J 42?VE 5@ E92E[ E96JVC6 E@DD65 C:89E 324< :? E96 4@F?EJ ;2:=]Qk^Am
kAm%96C6 :D ?@ ?2E:@?2= 4@F?E @7 9@H >2?J A2C6?ED 2C6 :?42C46C2E65 7@C 72:=FC6 E@ A2J kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQm49:=5k^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmDFAA@CEk^DA2?m[ 2?5 6?7@C46>6?E E24E:4D G2CJ 7C@> DE2E6 E@ DE2E6[ 2D 5@ A@=:4:6D DF49 2D H96E96C A2C6?ED 724:?8 ;2:= 2C6 8:G6? 4@FCE\2AA@:?E65 =2HJ6CD] qFE :? a__h[ 2 DFCG6J :? $@FE9 r2C@=:?2 7@F?5 E92E @?6 :? 6:89E :?>2E6D 925 366? ;2:=65 7@C 72:=FC6 E@ A2J kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQm49:=5k^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmDFAA@CEk^DA2?m] x? v6@C8:2[ b[d__ A2C6?ED H6C6 ;2:=65 :? a_`_] %96 #64@C5 @7 w24<6?D24<[ }6H y6CD6J[ C6A@CE65 =2DE J62C E92E `[g__ A2C6?ED 925 366? ;2:=65 @C 8:G6? 2?<=6 >@?:E@CD :? EH@ }6H y6CD6J 4@F?E:6D :? a_`b] W%96 >2;@C:EJ @7 ?@?4FDE@5:2= A2C6?ED ?2E:@?H:56 2C6 >6?]Xk^Am
kAm&?A2:5 kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQm49:=5k^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmDFAA@CEk^DA2?m 3642>6 2 3:8 4@?46C? :? E96 `hg_D 2?5 Vh_D 2D AF3=:4 9@DE:=:EJ 8C6H E@H2C5 E96 2C496EJA2= Q5625362E 525Q H9@ =:G65 4@>7@CE23=J H9:=6 9:D 49:=5C6? DF776C65] kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmr9:=5k^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmDFAA@CEk^DA2?m 4@==64E:@?D H6C6 D@ DA@EEJ E92E :? E96 =2E6 `hh_D[ ?6H 6?7@C46>6?E E@@=D DF49 2D 2FE@>2E:4 A2J4964< 565F4E:@?D H6C6 FD65] pD 2 C6DF=E[ kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQm49:=5k^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmDFAA@CEk^DA2?m 4@==64E:@?D :?4C62D65 D:8?:7:42?E=J[ 2?5 D@>6 A2C6?ED C6=J 962G:=J @? 288C6DD:G6 6?7@C46>6?E 3J E96 2FE9@C:E:6D]k^Am
kAmqFE 6IA6CED D2:5 AC@3=6>D 4@F=5 2C:D6 H96? DF49 E24E:4D H6C6 FD65 282:?DE A6@A=6 H9@ 925 =:EE=6 >@?6J[ 2?5 E96 G2DE >2;@C:EJ @7 F?A2:5 kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQm49:=5k^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmDFAA@CEk^DA2?m :D @H65 3J E96 G6CJ A@@C] p a__f &C32? x?DE:EFE6 DEF5J @7 kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQm49:=5k^DA2?mkDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmDFAA@CEk^DA2?m 563E :? ?:?6 =2C86 DE2E6D 7@F?5 E92E f_ A6C46?E @7 E96 2CC62CD H6C6 @H65 3J A6@A=6 H9@ C6A@CE65 =6DD E92? S`_[___ 2 J62C :? :?4@>6] %96J H6C6 6IA64E65 E@ A2J[ @? 2G6C286[ gb A6C46?E @7 E96:C :?4@>6 :? kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQm49:=5k^DA2?mkDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmDFAA@CEk^DA2?m \\ 2 A6C46?E286 E92E 564=:?65 AC64:A:E@FD=J :? 9:896C :?4@>6 3C24<6ED]k^Am
kAmx? >2?J ;FC:D5:4E:@?D[ kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmDFAA@CEk^DA2?m @C56CD 2C6 32D65 ?@E @? E96 A2C6?EVD 24EF2= :?4@>6 3FE @? Q:>AFE65 :?4@>6Q \\ H92E E96J H@F=5 36 6IA64E65 E@ 62C? :7 E96J 925 2 7F==\E:>6[ >:?:>F> H286 @C >65:2? H286 ;@3] x? $@FE9 r2C@=:?2[ E96 F?6>A=@J>6?E C2E6 7@C 3=24< >6? :D `a A6C46?E]k^Am
kAm%96 ~32>2 25>:?:DEC2E:@? :D ECJ:?8 E@ 492?86 D@>6 @7 E96D6 A@=:4:6D[ AC@A@D:?8 E@ C6HC:E6 6?7@C46>6?E CF=6D E@ C6BF:C6 kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQm49:=5k^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmDFAA@CEk^DA2?m @C56CD 36 32D65 @? 24EF2= :?4@>6 2?5 4@?D:56C E96 QDF3D:DE6?46 ?665DQ @7 E96 ?@?4FDE@5:2= A2C6?E[ E@ 32C DE2E6D 7C@> 2==@H:?8 kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQm49:=5k^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmDFAA@CEk^DA2?m 563E E@ 244CF6 H9:=6 A2C6?ED 2C6 :?42C46C2E65[ 2?5 E@ 7:?2?46 >@C6 ;@3 A=246>6?E D6CG:46D 7@C E96>]k^Am
kAmQ(9:=6 6G6CJ A2C6?E 92D 2 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ E@ kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmDFAA@CEk^DA2?m E96:C <:5D E@ E96 36DE @7 E96:C 23:=:EJ[ E96 E@@=D 56G6=@A65 :? E96 `hh_D 2C6 56D:8?65 7@C A6@A=6 H9@ 92G6 >@?6J[Q D2:5 ':4<: %FC6ED>:DD:@?6C @7 E96 &]$] ~77:46 @7 kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmr9:=5k^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQm$FAA@CEk^DA2?m t?7@C46>6?E] Qy2:= :D 2AAC@AC:2E6 7@C D@>6@?6 H9@ :D 24E:G6=J 9:5:?8 2DD6ED[ ?@E 2AAC@AC:2E6 7@C D@>6@?6 H9@ 4@F=5?VE A2J E96 @C56C :? E96 7:CDE A=246]Qk^Am
kAm&?56C 2 a_`` &]$] $FAC6>6 r@FCE CF=:?8[ 4@FCED 2C6 ?@E DFAA@D65 E@ ;2:= 2 5676?52?E H:E9@FE 2 DA64:7:4 7:?5:?8 E92E 96 @C D96 92D E96 23:=:EJ E@ A2J] qFE E92E AC@46DD 5@6D ?@E 2=H2JD H@C< 2D :?E6?565[ 6DA64:2==J H96? E96 4=:6?E 5@6D ?@E 92G6 2 =2HJ6C[ 25G@42E6D 7@C E96 A@@C D2J]k^Am
kAmx? E96 v6@C8:2 4=2DD\24E:@? 42D6[ E96 A=2:?E:77D H6C6 ;2:=65 :? 4:G:= 4@?E6>AE\@7\4@FCE AC@4665:?8D :? H9:49 E96J 5:5 ?@E 92G6 =2HJ6CD] %96J :?4=F565 E9C66 G6E6C2?D \\ @?6 H9@ 925 A2:5 Sfd[___ :? kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQm49:=5k^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmDFAA@CEk^DA2?m 3FE 76== 369:?5 H96? 96 =@DE 9:D 4:G:=:2? ;@3 3642FD6 @7 4@>32E\C6=2E65 DEC6DD 2?5 72>:=J 562E9Dj 2 D64@?5 H9@ H2D >6?E2==J :== 2?5 925 2 =6EE6C 7C@> 2 '6E6C2?D p772:CD 5@4E@C D2J:?8 96 H2D F?23=6 E@ H@C
kAmqFE E96 v6@C8:2 $FAC6>6 r@FCE CF=65 282:?DE E96>[ D2J:?8 E96J 5:5 ?@E 92G6 2 42E68@C:42= C:89E E@ 2 =2HJ6C]k^Am
kAm(2=E6C $4@EE 925 7@FC 49:=5C6?[ EH@ :? E96 62C=J `hh_D @FED:56 @7 >2CC:286[ 2?5 EH@ :? E96 =2E6 `hh_D H:E9 2 H@>2? E@ H9@> 96 H2D >2CC:65] %96 >2CC:286 4CF>3=65 H96? @?6 @7 E96 49:=5C6? H2D DE:== 2 E@55=6C[ 2?5 {:D2 $4@EE[ 9:D 6DEC2?865 H:76[ 3682? HC:E:?8 =6EE6CD E@ 72>:=J 4@FCE 2D<:?8 7@C 96=A]k^Am
kAmQ|J 9FD32?5 362CD ?@ C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ 7@C 9:D 72>:=J[Q D96 HC@E6 :? a___]k^Am
kAmx? 2? 2CE:4=6 23@FE 2 A2C6?E:?8 AC@8C2> AF3=:D965 :? %96 !@DE 2?5 r@FC:6C @7 r92C=6DE@? :? a__b[ (2=E6C $4@EE D2:5 E92E 96 925 72==6? 369:?5 H96? E96 4964:DE2<6?=J 5:C64E65 E@ E96 >@E96C @7 9:D 7:CDE 49:=5C6?] W%96 $@FE9 r2C@=:?2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 $@4:2= $6CG:46D[ 4:E:?8 AC:G24J =2HD[ D2:5 :E 4@F=5 ?@E G6C:7J 9:D 244@F?E]Xk^Am
kAm$4@EE 6G6?EF2==J DA6?E EH@ H66 2 Sbd[___\2\J62C ;@3 2E 2 7:=>>2<:?8 4@>A2?J 2?5 D6?E 9:> :?E@ :D@=2E:@? 2?5 2=4@9@= 23FD6[ 96 E@=5 %96 !@DE 2?5 r@FC:6C]k^Am
kAmQx 8@E >25 2E 6G6CJ3@5J :? E96 H9@=6 H@C=5 3642FD6 x ;FDE =@DE E96 36DE ;@3 x 6G6C 925[Q 96 D2:5] Qx ;FDE DE@AA65 5@:?8 6G6CJE9:?8]Qk^Am
kAmx? a__a[ $4@EE[ 7FCE96C 369:?5 @? 9:D A2J>6?ED[ 28C665 E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? 2 A2C6?E:?8 AC@8C2> 42==65 u2E96C E@ u2E96C 2?5 A2J Sbd_ 2 >@?E9] $4@EE C6F?:E65 H:E9 9:D 72>:=J[ EFC?65 9:>D6=7 :? 7@C E96 F?A2:5 kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQm49:=5k^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmDFAA@CEk^DA2?m2?5 D6CG65 2?@E96C 7:G6 >@?E9D :? ;2:=]k^Am
kAm$E:==[ r92C=6DE@? r@F?EJ u2>:=J r@FCE C64@C5D D9@H E92E 96 C6>2:?65 :? 2 4J4=6 @7 F?A2:5 kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQm49:=5k^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmDFAA@CEk^DA2?m 563E[ DE:?ED :? ;2:= 2?5 >@C6 E9C62ED @7 E:>6 369:?5 32CD] %96 C64@C5D 2=D@ D9@H E92E H96? $4@EE H2D H@C<:?8 :? a_``[ S`ad]fe H2D 565F4E65 7C@> 9:D 4964< 6249 H66<] w6 A2:5 S``[c`` E92E J62C[ H9:49 :?4=F565 2 =F>A\DF> A2J>6?E] qFE 96 H2D 369:?5 282:? :? yF=J a_`a[ 2?5 96 A2:5 Sb[d__[ 9:D =2DE C64@C565 A2J>6?E[ E@ 2G@:5 ;2:=] %96 >@?6J 42>6 7C@> 9:D A2C6?ED[ $4@EEVD 3C@E96C #@5?6J D2:5]k^Am
kAm#@5?6J $4@EE D2:5 9:D 3C@E96C C6D6?E65 E92E 9:D 6I\H:76 H2D ?@E C6BF:C65 E@ H@C< 2?5 E92E E96 AC6DDFC6 H2D 2=H2JD @? 9:> E@ A2J kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmDFAA@CEk^DA2?m] rC:E:4D @7 E96 kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQm49:=5k^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmDFAA@CEk^DA2?m DJDE6> D2J E9:D :>32=2?46 :D C67=64E65 :? CF=6D E92E D2J E92E :7 2 >@E96C C646:G6D AF3=:4 2DD:DE2?46[ E96 72E96C >FDE A2J :E 324<[ 6G6? :7 96 :D 2=D@ A@@C] x? >2?J 42D6D[ E9@F89 ?@E :? $4@EEVD[ kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQm49:=5k^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmDFAA@CEk^DA2?m 24E:@?D 2C6 3C@F89E 3J DE2E6 @77:4:2=D D66<:?8 H6=72C6 C6:>3FCD6>6?E]k^Am
kAm{:D2 $4@EE 4@F=5 ?@E 36 C624965 2E 255C6DD6D @C A9@?6 ?F>36CD =:DE65 :? 96C ?2>6] $2>2?E92 $4@EE[ 2 52F89E6C 7C@> (2=E6C $4@EEVD 7:CDE C6=2E:@?D9:A[ D2:5 D96 925 ?6G6C 962C5 96C @H? >@E96C 4@>A=2:? 23@FE 2 =24< @7kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmDFAA@CEk^DA2?m] Qx7 96 925 >@?6J[ 96 H@F=5 8:G6 :E E@ FD[Q D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%FC6ED D9@F=5 36 32D65 @? E96 6IA64E2E:@? E92E 3@E9 A2C6?ED H@F=5 4@?EC:3FE6 E@H2C5 E96:C 49:=5C6?VD ?665D] QxEVD ?FED[Q D96 D2:5 @7 E96 A@=:4J @7 >2<:?8 56DE:EFE6 72E96CD C6A2J H6=72C6] Q$96 86ED E96 2DD:DE2?46j 96 86ED 492C865 H:E9 E96 3:==]Qk^Am
kAmy29>2= w@=>6D[ ag[ :D 2 4FCC6?E A2CE:4:A2?E :? E96 u2E96C E@ u2E96C AC@8C2> :? }@CE9 r92C=6DE@?[ $@FE9 r2C@=:?2] w6 92D EH@ 49:=5C6?[ c 2?5 g[ 2?5 D2:5 96 925 28C665 E@ 4@FCE\@C56C65 kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQm49:=5k^DA2?m kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmDFAA@CEk^DA2?m 3642FD6 96 925 366? E@=5 E92E :E H2D 2 C6BF:C6>6?E 7@C E96:C >@E96C E@ C646:G6 |65:42:5] %96 EH@ 92G6 D:?46 3C@<6? FA 2?5 D92C6 4FDE@5J @7 E96 J@F?86C kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQm49:=5k^DA2?m[ 3FE 96 :D DE:== C6BF:C65 E@ A2J kDA2? 4=2DDlQ9:89=:89EQmDFAA@CEk^DA2?m 7@C 3@E9]k^Am
kAmw@=>6D D2:5 96 5:5 ?@E C62=:K6 E92E :7 96 76== 369:?5 @? A2J>6?ED[ 96 H@F=5 7246 ;2:=] Qx 2> 369:?5 ?@H[ 2?5 E96J 2C6 E9C62E6?:?8 E@ DFDA6?5 >J 5C:G6CVD =:46?D6 \\ 2?5 xV> 2 ECF4< 5C:G6C[Q 96 D2:5] Q(96? x D2H E92E (2=E6C $4@EE 5:65[ 2?5 96 H2D :? E9:D AC@8C2>[ E92E E@F4965 >6 6>@E:@?2==J] x D66 >JD6=7 ECJ:?8 E@ 86E @FE @7 E92E D:EF2E:@?]Qk^Am
kAm#@5?6J $4@EE D2:5 E92E 96 D@>6E:>6D E9@F89E 9:D 3C@E96C 5:5 ?@E 5@ 6G6CJE9:?8 96 4@F=5 E@ 42E49 FA[ 3FE E92E 96 D66>65 E@ 4@?D:56C :E 2 9@A6=6DD 42FD6] #@5?6J $4@EE C642==65 D66:?8 9:D 3C@E96C A=625 E@ 2 ;F586 E92E 96 ;FDE 5:5 ?@E >2<6 6?@F89 >@?6J]k^Am
kAmQw6 2D<65 E96 ;F586[ Vw@H 2> x DFAA@D65 E@ =:G6nV Q #@5?6J $4@EE D2:5] Qp?5 E96 ;F586 D2:5 D@>6E9:?8 =:<6[ V%92EVD J@FC AC@3=6>] *@F 7:8FC6 :E @FE]V Qk^Am
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service - if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read the FAQ at http://ift.tt/jcXqJW.
http://ift.tt/eA8V8J Skip child support. Go to jail. Lose job. Repeat. Punitive policies are trapping poor men in a cycle of debt, unemployment and imprisonment. via top scoring links : news http://ift.tt/1G0AXyO
Put the internet to work for you.
No comments:
Post a Comment