Enforcing child support to shift

The top criminal prosecutor took control this week of enforcing child support in Tipton, Fayette, Lauderdale, Hardeman and McNairy counties.
Dist. Atty. Gen. D. Michael Dunavant is taking on an extra $1.6 million budget and 29 new employees to establish child support and enforce it in the 25th Judicial District.

Also, the state should save money because a private company figures in a profit margin, said Phil Pearsall, fiscal director of the District Attorneys General Conference.
"We don't get a profit," he said.
A call to Maximus was not returned Thursday.
Statewide, district attorneys general handle child support services and enforcement in 21 of the 31 judicial districts.
Private companies handle collections in other districts while neighboring Shelby County is the only district to process collections through Juvenile Court.
Problems have occurred because people providing the service "forget it is called child support," Dunavant said in a telephone interview.
"It is not all about numbers. It is really about serving the children of the district.
"It's not called 'mother support' or 'father support,' not 'state support' or 'district attorney support.' It's called child support."
With gas and milk prices at $4 a gallon, Dunavant said, "being a single parent is almost impossible.
"If the law requires noncustodial parents to pay support, there's a good reason for that. And that gives benefit, food, shelter, education and health care to children.
"What could be more noble than that?" Dunavant said.
Dunavant has added a Child Support Enforcement Division to his office.
The division will have two offices. One in Bolivar will serve Fayette, Hardeman and McNairy counties, and one in Covington will serve Tipton and Lauderdale counties.
The 29 new employees will include: a child support administrator; two child support assistant district attorneys general; two paralegals; two supervisors; 17 case managers; four customer service representatives; and one child support investigator.
The investigator is a new position that will tackle the toughest cases of noncustodial parents who are evasive and hide their assets, Dunavant said.
"I don't think all fathers are deadbeat dads," he said. "Lots do the right thing and pay their support.
"But there are people out there who need our assistance trying to protect and take care of their children."