The roundup in Precinct 6 started at 5:30am. It was the only roundup that was held today in the state. Out of the 2,000 cases where warrants have been issued for deadbeat parents statewide, 140 of them are in Precinct 6..
So far, officials have arrested 12 alleged deadbeat parents and they are working to arrest more.
"We sent them notices on the importance of them paying their child support on a regular basis and they have failed to do so. And as a result, the judge has issued an arrest warrants for these non-custodial parents," said Dalia Perez, deputy for the State Attorney General. "Again, parents have a moral and legal obligation to make these regular child support payments."
"I wished that all grown ups would understand their role and take care of their children and it doesn't have to come to law enforcement to go out there and looking for them," said Harris County Precinct 6 Constable Victor Trevino.
In Harris County alone, more than $490 million in child support is collected each year. Across the state, that adds up to $2.3 billion collected in child support every year.
The non-custodial parent that is arrested when a warrant is issued for them for failure to pay has two options when arrested. They can either stay in jail for six months or pay a cash bond to get out of jail. We're told nine out of 10 times, the parent usually has the money.
