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Cell phones tracking deadbeat parents

July 23, 2008 12:00 am

Deirdre Blake
The Division of Child Support Enforcement in Virginia is cracking down on parents who aren't living up to their responsibilities. p

Virginia Department of Social Services Spokeswoman Carla Harris says they have a number of initiatives. The one that is most successful and even won a national award is based on cell phone records of those who owe.p

Harris says they first try traditional methods to collect money from non-custodial parents. When that process fails, they subpoena the major cellular companies for records. If these parents move or change jobs often, cell records can be an effective way to get a current billing address.p

The program started as a partnership with the Virginia Attorney General's Office back in 2005. During fiscal year 2007, the program collected more than $608 million in owed and delinquent child support for Virginia children.





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