Incarcerated Groups / Reentry
Child support programs work with our partners to help parents who are incarcerated or returning to their communities. Fundamental fairness and access to justice are critical to effective child support enforcement. Child support is a legal obligation. When child support procedures are clear, realistic, and fair, parents are more likely to make reliable support payments that their children can count on.
If you would like to do more to help incarcerated parents with their child support, contact your local correctional institutions, including jails and state or federal prisons.
Quick tips:
- Federal prisons have a Reentry Affairs Coordinator (RAC) who can help.
- Provide the Bureau of Prison’s case management staff with one of these documents:
- a copy of the court order or judgment ordering child support
- a letter from a state child support enforcement unit that explains the inmate’s obligation
- Ensure obligations become part of the Bureau of Prison’s Financial Responsibility Program.
Strategies for child support staff:
- Visit corrections facilities or station a staff person at the prison to meet individually with inmates.
- Produce videos or other materials to share with incarcerated parents.
- Offer modification materials to incarcerated parents.
- Help parents complete the required paperwork.
- Offer child support assistance at sentencing, prison intake, or pre-release.
- Work with reentry organizations to provide child support information or help.
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Changing a Child Support Order
Resources:
- Guide to Changing a Child Support Order (PDF) – information to help parents understand the child support review and modification process
- 54 State Guides on How to Change a Child Support Order – an interactive map to get information about how to change a child support order in your state
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Project to Avoid Increasing Delinquencies (PAID)
Activities that increase the regular payments of current child support and prevent and reduce arrears
Resources:
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Reentry Myth Busters
Fact sheets and resources clarify existing federal policies that affect formerly incarcerated individuals and their families
Resources:
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Federal Resources
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Toolkit for Parents
Some tools to help parents with the changes children are going through:
Resources:
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Jobs Not Jail
Infographic displays the cost-benefit difference between providing job services and jail