(Washington, DC) – Attorney General for the District of Columbia Linda Singer today announced that the Child Support Services Division (CSSD) of her office is offering a week-long amnesty period during which parents with child support arrears can come into the office and make payment arrangements and avoid civil contempt.

The CSSD is offering the amnesty program from Saturday, August 18, until Saturday, August 25.  Currently, CSSD has identified approximately 9,897 non-custodial parents who may benefit from amnesty – parents who owe back child support and are not making payments.

The CSSD has more children in the child support system – approximately 90,000 – than are in the DC Public Schools. The Office of the Attorney General’s CSSD collects more than $50 million in child support payments, making it one of the District’s largest anti-poverty programs.

“This program gives parents who are months – even years -- behind in their child support payments a second chance to make a difference in the lives of their children,” Attorney General Singer said.  “Our goal is literally to make them pay.  This is in the best interests of those parents who are facing legal action and very much in the interest of the children who would benefit from the support.”

Parents who have been ordered by the DC Superior Court to pay child support and are in arrears by not making the payments are being notified by U.S. mail about how to take part in Amnesty 2007. Amnesty will be offered for warrants issued by the court as a result of non-payment of child support and for suspended driver’s licenses.

Non-custodial parents who do not take advantage of the program may be subject to contempt actions in court and arrest after August 25, 2007.

In 2005, more than 1,600 non-custodial parents participated in the two-week amnesty period.  During one weekend of the amnesty, approximately 400 parents showed up to get current on their child support payments, catapulting the back due child support collection rate during amnesty to more than $200,000.

Those interested in taking advantage of the benefits offered during the amnesty period must come in person to CSSD at 441 Fourth St., NW, (Judiciary Square stop on the Red Line) and discuss their case with a CSSD staff member. Amnesty will be granted at the time of payment, the warrant will be cancelled, suspended driver’s licenses will be restored and a new court date will be set.

Participants should bring valid photo identification. For questions about the Amnesty Program, contact CSSD at 202.442.9900 or view the Amnesty FAQs online at: http://cssd.dc.gov/csed/cwp/view,a,3,q,638326,csedNav,|31158|.asp