Madison County has launched the first problem-solving court in Illinois devoted to helping parents find ways to pay child support.

Late last year, Chief Judge Dave Hylla announced the inception of Madison County's - and Illinois' - first "accountability court." It is designed to help parents who want to pay child support but are unable to do so because they are unemployed or otherwise lack financial stability. The accountability court has partnered with Madison County Employment Services, the Madison County State's Attorney's Office, and local community colleges to identify potential candidates for the program and assist with job training and placement.

Ann Callis, former chief judge and currently of Goldenberg Heller Antognoli, says that the program received an enthusiastic response from the local community colleges and major employers in the area, such as R.P. Lumber. The program is philosophically similar to existing problem-solving tribunals (e.g., drug and veterans' courts).

Hylla says the most important aspect behind the accountability court is that it is designed to assist people, unlike traditional courts that focus on punishment and deterrence. "A lot of times, people with a large arrearage amount aren't thinking about getting into court to modify the support order," he says.

It is difficult to handle such a matter pro se, he says. Many parents who are behind on support cannot afford an attorney to assist them. As a result, "the arrearage keeps rolling up and up."

The program is designed to focus on fixing these kinds of problems by helping address their root causes. One of those causes is often unemployment.

Hylla notes that when a parent is in arrears on child support or maintenance, it can affect both child visitation and relations with the former spouse. By giving parents a pathway to employment, the program helps them repay their arrears and get back to supporting their children. Callis likens it to a veterans' court because the program "connects people with services that already exist so that they can get employed."

The 4D docket

According to both Callis and Hylla, the accountability court is needed in Madison County due to the size of the child support docket. Hylla says that there are thousands of cases on the docket, which is referred to as the 4D docket.

In these cases, child support is so far behind that it is being paid by the taxpayers. Getting parents back to work thus benefits both families and taxpayers. Eventually, the program will expand beyond the 4D docket, Hylla says.

"Hopefully we will be able to intercept problems early on, keep arrearages down, and get them paid off," he says. Parents will benefit as well; Hylla says that empowering people to find employment will give them a sense of self-pride. Callis is hopeful that the program will "stop the revolving door of arrears."

The program is still in its infancy. The first court call was in February, with 10 people on that call. Another took place on March 9. Currently, the Madison County State's Attorney is recommending people to the program.

The program seeks highly motivated parents who want to pay child support but cannot. Parents are put in contact with the accountability court's partners for job training, GED classes, and employment opportunities. One major partner is R.P. Lumber, which has jobs available for participants. Bob Plummer, owner of R.P. Lumber, has stated that he strongly supports the program and encourages other local businesses "to find a way to be supportive and involved" (see http://bit.ly/1Vaa4DS).

Hylla stresses that while the jobs do not require a college degree, they are not minimum wage jobs. "A better wage allows parents to better support their kids. It's a benefit for both taxpayers and children," he says. Jobs with R.P. Lumber range from carrying shingles on roofing jobs to housekeeping jobs in hotels.

The accountability court is continuing to seek and partner with other employers in the area. "A year from now, we'll know more about how this is doing," says Hylla. He points to the example of a similar court in Maricopa County, Arizona. "The funds recovered were pretty astounding."