Annual child support round-up results in 473 arrests

At least 473 arrests have resulted from the child support round-up held this week in 43 counties across the state. The number of arrests this year is the highest reported since the annual event began in 1997.

"The arrests over the past week demonstrate that Ohio will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that parents comply with child support orders," ODJFS Director Barbara Riley said. "If you aren't paying your court-ordered support and don't want to be arrested, contact your county child support enforcement agency and work with them to provide your children with the support they deserve."

The ten round-ups held each year since 1997 have resulted in a total of 2,820 arrests statewide. The round-ups are conducted in a cooperative effort between ODJFS, county child support enforcement agencies and the Buckeye State Sheriff's Association.

Counties participating in this year's round-up include: Ashland, Butler, Coshocton, Cuyahoga, Defiance, Fairfield, Franklin, Fulton, Geauga, Greene, Guernsey, Hamilton, Harrison, Henry, Huron, Knox, Lake, Lawrence, Licking, Lorain, Lucas, Madison, Mahoning, Marion, Mercer, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Muskingum, Ottawa, Pickaway, Richland, Ross, Scioto, Seneca, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas, Union, Van Wert, Warren, Wayne and Wood.

The counties reporting the most arrests were Hamilton with 84, Franklin and Lucas with 50 arrests each, Summit with 39 and Butler with 37.

Ohio collected nearly $2 billion in child support in state fiscal year 2006. There are nearly one million child support cases in the state. Ohio has the third largest child support caseload in the nation, ranks third in total collections and first in collections for non-public assistance cases.

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For more information, contact ODJFS Communications, (614) 466-6650.