Procedural Justice-Informed Alternatives to Contempt (PJAC)
The PJAC demonstration project seeks to increase parents’ compliance with child support orders by increasing trust and confidence in the child support agency and its processes. PJAC is a five-year project that will allow grantees to examine whether incorporating procedural justice principles into child support business practices increases reliable child support payments. The goals are to increase reliable payments, reduce arrears, minimize the need for continued enforcement actions and sanctions, and reduce the inappropriate use of contempt.
For details, read the funding opportunity announcement for the PJAC Project and PJAC Evaluation.
On September 30, 2016, OCSE awarded Section 1115 grants for PJAC to Arizona, California, Michigan, Franklin County - Ohio, Stark County - Ohio, and Virginia.
Georgia was awarded a grant to manage the evaluation of the PJAC Project.
Top Resources
Justice Department Announces Resources to Reform Practices
Published: March 21, 2016DOJ resources to reform practices for assessing ability to pay as part of enforcement efforts to collect fees and finesNational Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice
An organization designed to improve relationships and increase trust between minority communities and the criminal justice systemCenter for Court Innovation - Procedural Justice
Provides a link to the Center for Court Innovation, advancing procedural justice through programs, research, and assistanceFunding Opportunity Announcement - Evaluation of PJAC
Original funding opportunity announcement issued in 2016 for the Evaluation of the Procedural Justice Informed Alternatives to Contempt Demonstration