Media

Child Support Fugitives Arrested In Round-Up

Release Date: April 3, 2006

Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Deputies, with assistance from the U.S. Marshal’s Mid-South Fugitive Task Force, arrested ninety-four (94) people this past week who owe child support.

“This was a very successful event.  I applaud the efforts of our Fugitive Division who helped coordinate this initiative with Shelby County Juvenile Court,” said Shelby County Sheriff Mark H. Luttrell, Jr.

The initiative to clear child support cases began a week ago when the names of almost 5000 people wanted for not paying child support were published in the March 26, 2006 edition of The Commercial Appeal newspaper. 

Beginning last Thursday night, 75 Shelby County Deputies and officers from the Mid-South Fugitive Task Force, assisted by the Sheriff’s Emergency Services and Special Services Squads, launched a four-day operation to fan out across Shelby County to arrest those who did not contact Shelby County Juvenile Court to make payment arrangements.

Officers made 617 visits to neighborhoods and some businesses throughout Shelby County.  Sixty-two (62) people were arrested during the weekend round-up.  Another thirty-two (32) people were arrested earlier in the week.

Those in the Child Support Division of Juvenile Court say the newspaper ad persuaded hundreds of people to contact the court to make payment arrangements to avoid being arrested. 

 “We had excellent results from the Fugitive Division’s enforcement effort and the newspaper advertisement that showed the names of those wanted on child support charges.  Our goal was to ensure families received the money owed to them and we accomplished that goal,” said Mitch Morgan, Director of Child Support for Shelby County Juvenile Court.

As a result of the week-long operation, Shelby County Government also saved hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Approximately seven hundred (700) offenders avoided jail by making arrangements with Juvenile Court to settle their cases.

Taking that number, times the cost of a day in jail ($100.00-which includes personnel and operational costs per inmate), times the average length of stay for those jailed on child support charges (approximately 10 days), reflects a potential $700,000 savings in fees that would have gone to house those who might have been arrested.

The Sheriff’s Office and Shelby County Juvenile Court will continue to measure the results of this operation.  Similar initiatives will be considered to save Shelby County money and reduce the number of warrants on file in the Fugitive Division.

 

 

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