BLOOMFIELD, INDIANA— Effective April 2023, the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office has begun criminally prosecuting the non-payment of child support orders. It is critical that court ordered child support payments be made on time, and in an appropriate manner, in order to ensure the wellbeing of the child or children involved.

Criminal Nonsupport differs significantly from the Title IV-D enforcement services that Greene County has provided in the past. The Title IV-D office has a very limited number of enforcement methods ranging from a letter notifying the nonpaying party of their obligation on the low end to asking for a short contempt jail sanction on the high end. In between these two extremes there exists things like driver’s license suspensions, hunting license suspensions, and intercepting tax refunds. All these methods will continue to be utilized in an attempt to encourage the nonpaying party to begin meeting their obligation.

The Criminal Nonsupport Campaign takes things out of the civil realm of Title IV-D, and into the criminal realm. Under current Indiana law, Nonsupport of a Child is a Level 6 Felony, unless the individual charged has a prior conviction for Nonsupport of a Child, in which case it is a Level 5 Felony. (IC 35-46-1-5) In Indiana Level 6 Felonies carry a penalty of 6 months in jail to 2 and ½ years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000. In Indiana Level 5 Felonies carry a penalty of 1 year to 6 years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000.

Initially the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office will investigate and seek to prosecute those individuals who have accrued the largest arrearages in Greene County. Typically, these individuals have failed to pay support in an amount exceeding $30,000, with no consistent voluntary payments in the preceding years. This threshold amount will decrease over time, as the statute now has no lower limit to the prosecution of nonpayment of support.

“It is incumbent upon every parent to provide support to their children. It is one of the most important responsibilities we have,” says Jarrod Holtsclaw, elected Prosecutor. “Criminal prosecutions will now be used against those who ignore this basic duty after all other attempts to gain compliance have failed.”

If you or anyone you know has an unpaid child support obligation, payments must start now. If prompt and consistent payment does begin, criminal action may be deferred.

Any questions or concerns should be directed to the Greene County Child Support Division at (812)384-3314.