Source: http://petitionchildsupportreform.com/forum/
Timestamp: 2017-10-22 22:56:29
Document Index: 109176853

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 228', '§ 228', '§ 651', '§ 2', '§ 228', '§ 3563', '§ 3563', '§ 3563', '§ 1581', '§ 1584', '§ 1589', '§ 1589', '§ 1584']

PETITION for CHILD SUPPORT REFORM » CONTEMPT OF COURT
These are examples used for “Contempt of Court Proceedings” If you are out of work and unable to pay, employed and making partial payments, or having your check/benefits garnished, below you will find examples of “Elements of the Offense” for Contempt of Court. Elements of the Offense are required and 100% essential elements of a charge against you and ‘must’, repeat ‘must’ be proven prior to a Conviction of Contempt of Court.
Elements of the Offense for Contempt of Court may be found below. The elements are: first, “Ability to Pay” this needs to be proven before element two, “Willful Intent”. (Not to comply with a court order, to pay; also known as debtors’ prison.). There are three Federal Statutes and one State Statute found in the examples below. Every State is obligated to follow these Federal Statutes and please note, that the State Statute in the example only applies to Pennsylvania. You will have to find the State Statute (law) that applies to your State of residence.
You may need a lawyer to re-word the following situations for you and advise you on how to present them in your case, or Appeal, Judicial Review Complaint, FBI Investigation.
For Federal Statutes on PEONAGE, INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE and FORCED LABOR, (that supports the U.S. Constitution 13th Amendment), go to the bottom of this page. The correct questions asked of the Judge would ‘precisely’ implement the above violations into the Court record, affording you an opportunity to Appeal not only a violation of Federal Statutes, but against your U.S. Constitutional Rights.
EXAMPLE ONE: Being garnished and they still want more money.
I am presently being garnished, and there is no way ‘Willful Intent’ not to pay, or not comply with a court order may be proven because it simply does not exist. It is also ‘impossible’ for the Court to establish that I have the ‘Ability to Pay’ more than what you are already garnishing.
To convict me of Contempt of Court is a Violation of my Rights of Due Process and a Violation of Federal Law; a law that you are under oath obligated to abide by and uphold. Please NOTE: The following two Federal Laws and one State Law, specifically addressing the ‘Elements of the Offense’. Critical and essential elements, that must be proven, prior to awarding a Contempt of Court Conviction. They are located below……….. (here is where you tell them where they may read the three Federal Statutes (for ex. below, bottom of this page, page 2…) YOU ALSO NEED TO REPLACE THE STATE LAW P.L.E. WITH YOUR RELATED LAW FROM YOUR STATE… To find it, go to the law library or Google it.))
A conviction of Contempt of Court will lead to an Appeal to an Appellate Court, a filing with the Judicial Review Commission and a copy of my transcript to the Federal Bureau of Investigations. (FBI is granted the authority to review and investigate any allegations where a member of the Court violates an Individuals Constitutional Rights and/or violates the Office in which a member of the Court took an oath, (contract)).
U.S.CA. Title 18 ss. 401 Note 14 —– Intent “Wrongful intent is required in every case to support a contempt conviction, and proof beyond reasonable doubt.
US ATTORNEYS>USAM>Title 9>Criminal Resource Manual 753 Elements of the Offense of Contempt —– lists the third (3) Element, “the violation was willful.”
US Attorneys > USAM > Title 9 > Criminal Resource Manual 1951
1951 Elements of the Offense of Failure to Pay Child Support
In order to establish that an individual has violated 18 U.S.C. section 228, the United States must prove that:
There is a known past due child support obligation;
The obligation has remained unpaid for longer than one year OR is an amount greater than $5,000;
The obligation is for a child who resides in another state (interstate flight is not an element of the offense).
The defendant had the ability to pay;
The defendant willfully failed to pay.
P.L.E. 7A ss. 12 —– Ability to Comply Re: Element of Offense (Please NOTE: This is a State Statute for the Element Ability to Comply and is a Pennsylvania only statute. You will need to find the Statute pertaining to your State that you reside in.).
END OF EXAMPLE ONE. Short and sweet and it WILL make them think otherwise before flushing your U.S. Constitutional Rights down the toilet!
EXAMPLE TWO: Out of work and no “Ability to Pay”
I am presently unemployed. My inability to pay and ‘intent to comply’ with a Court Order are reflected by my efforts to borrow money to make two partial payments and my efforts to seek employment at (here is where you put the name and addresses of where you sought employment.).
NOTE: There never has been, nor is there presently any proof submitted establishing I had the Ability to Pay, by the acting counsel, (here is where you put the name of who it is that is presenting the case against you. This will not always be a lawyer, often the Director of Child Support Enforcement… Another huge violation of the law.).
Please NOTE: The following three Federal Laws and one State Law, specifically addressing the ‘Elements of the Offense’. Critical and essential elements, that must be proven, prior to awarding a Contempt of Court Conviction. They are located below……….. (here is where you tell them where they may read the two Federal Statutes (for ex. below, bottom of this page, page 2…) YOU ALSO NEED TO REPLACE THE STATE LAW P.L.E. WITH YOUR RELATED LAW FROM YOUR STATE… To find it, go to the law library or Google it.))
END OF EXAMPLE TWO.
START OF MORE INFORMATION:
SUBJECT: Prosecutive Guidelines and Procedures for the Child Support Recovery Act of 1992 (REVISED, 2/97)
The Child Support Recovery Act of 1992
The Child Support Recovery Act of 1992 (CSRA), Pub. L. No. 102-521, makes the willful failure to pay a past due support obligation with respect to a child residing in another state a federal offense. 18 U.S.C. § 228 (see Appendix 1). A first violation of the CSRA is punishable by six months imprisonment and/or a fine. Subsequent violations are punishable by two years imprisonment and/or a fine.
The F.B.I. has primary investigatory jurisdiction. Additionally, Special Agents of the Office of the Inspector General of the United States Department of Health and Human Services have been given authority to investigate violations of the CSRA.
The following policies and procedures are intended to ensure effective prosecution of the CSRA by providing a means for selecting egregious cases which states are unable to handle because of the interstate nature of the case.
The United States must prove the defendant:
1. Having the ability to pay,
2. Did willfully fail to pay,
3. A known past due (child) support obligation,
4. Which has remained unpaid for longer than one year
OR is an amount greater than $5,000,
5. For a child who resides in another state.1
Past Due Support Obligation
The CSRA defines “past due support obligation” as any amount:
(A) determined under a court order or an order of an administrative process pursuant to the law of a State to be due from a person for the support and maintenance of a child and the parent with whom the child is living; and
18 U.S.C. § 228(d)(1).
According to the legislative history, willfulness has the same meaning as it has for purposes of federal criminal tax law.
H. Rep. No. 102-771, 102nd Cong., 2d Sess. at 6 (see Appendix 2). For criminal tax cases, willfulness is knowing and intentional violation of a known legal duty. Cheek v. United States, 111 S.Ct. 604, 610 (1991).
With respect to ability to pay, the legislative history states the government must establish beyond a reasonable doubt, that at the time payment was due the [defendant] possessed sufficient funds to enable him to meet his obligation or that the lack of sufficient funds on such date was created by (or was the result of) a voluntary and intentional act without justification in view of all the financial circumstances of the [defendant].
H.Rep. No. 102-771, 102nd Cong., 2d Sess., at 6 (see Appendix 2).
Willfulness cannot be presumed from non-payment alone. 138 Cong. Rec. S17131 (October 7, 1992) (see Appendix 3). The government is required to prove that the defendant, as of the date specified as the date of the offense, willfully failed to pay an outstanding amount.
Criminal culpability is not obviated by partial payment of support obligations because the statute defines past due support obligation as “any amount.” However, partial payment may be relevant to inability to pay, which would negate willfulness. The circumstances of any case in which partial payment has been made, including the relationship of the amount of partial payment to the total arrearage and ability to pay the arrearage, should be considered before proceeding.
Prosecutive Screening Criteria
As a general principle, it is recommended that cases should be accepted only when the referral makes clear that all reasonable available remedies have been exhausted.2 Where it can be concluded based upon the obligor’s past conduct that further efforts, while technically viable, would probably prove futile, the case should still be given consideration for referral. Among such cases, priority should be given to cases where the following is established:
a. a pattern of flight from state to state to avoid payment or flight after service of process for contempt or contempt hearings; or
b. a pattern of deception to avoid payment, such as changing employment, concealing assets or location, or using false names and/or social security numbers; or
c. failure to make support payments after being held in contempt; or
d. there exist particular circumstances which dictate the need for immediate federal intervention, such as where the custodial parent and/or child have special medical needs which are going unmet, where the custodial parent and/or child is handicapped, or where the custodial family is in danger of eviction and homelessness; or
e. when the failure to make child support payments has a nexus to other potential federal charges, such as bankruptcy fraud (i.e. concealing assets), bank fraud (i.e. false statements to a bank), federal income tax charges (i.e. false statement or tax evasion) or other related criminal conduct.
Priority should also be given to those cases where the children of the non-paying parent are still minors. While there is no policy prohibiting the filing of charges in “arrears only” cases where there is a chargeable period of non-payment post-enactment of the CSRA, the policy of identifying cases which are the most egregious encompasses the notion that the need to support minor children, while they are minors, is of greater importance.
Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 651 et. seq. requires states to establish programs for the enforcement of child support. The agencies operating these programs are known as IV-D agencies. These agencies must pursue child support on behalf of individuals who are receiving public assistance as well as at the request of those who are not. In addition, there may be other qualified agencies involved with child support.3 These agencies may have a great deal of information concerning violations of the CSRA. U.S. Attorneys are encouraged to coordinate with IV-D officials or their designees and other appropriate officials on local and state levels to establish and/or update referral procedures, and may wish to establish local committees to develop guidelines and procedures, or draft and execute a Memorandum of Understanding to define the referral procedures and guidelines.4 Consideration should also be given to appointing state or local child support prosecutors as Special United States Attorneys to assist in the prosecution of cases under the CSRA.
It is recommended that U.S. Attorneys in multi-district states work together to develop a uniform state-wide approach to avoid marked differences in referral procedures and guidelines within the same state.
Complaints and referrals for investigation may also come from private lawyers, advocacy groups, or from individuals. These complainants should be strongly encouraged to pursue their available remedies, and to seek any subsequent referral for prosecution, through the IV-D agency or other appropriate state or local agency.
U.S. Attorneys should require a referral package in every case. It is suggested that United States Attorneys coordinate the preparation of the referral package with the appropriate agency.
Venue for the prosecution will lie in either the district where the child resides or the district where the non-paying parent resides.5
Among the factors to be considered when making a decision regarding venue selection are, for example, the efficiency of a prosecution (i.e. the costs of transporting witnesses, victims or the defendant or the availability and need for documents custodians to testify). The deterrent impact of the prosecution in each district should also be weighed.
Factors that favor venue in the district where the child resides include the presence of significant evidence in that district, such as judicial or administrative orders reflecting the support obligation or arrearage. Another factor suggesting that venue may be appropriate in the child’s district would be if the custodial parent receives public assistance in that district.
Factors that favor venue in the district where the nonpaying parent resides include the presence of evidence showing willfulness such as witnesses or documents concerning the existence or concealment of assets, change(s) of residence, or “job hopping.”
Charging Decisions and Notice to Target
Care must be taken to ensure that the criminal process is not used to enforce a civil debt. As such, once a case has been filed it should not be dismissed. Nor should pre-trial diversion be considered, except in extraordinary circumstances, merely because an offender makes payment. An additional consideration militating against dismissal or pre-trial diversion once charges have been filed is that the deterrent impact of the potential felonious second offense would be avoided by dismissal or pretrial diversion of the first offense.
No notice to the target is required prior to the filing of charges in these cases. While some U.S. Attorney’s Offices have had a measure of success in encouraging targets to fulfill their obligations through the transmittal of target letters prior to making a final charging decision, such a practice must be weighed carefully in light of the considerations discussed above.
The determination as to whether to issue a summons or warrant in CSRA cases should be made on a case-by-case basis by the United States Attorney’s Office prosecuting the case. Since these charges will generally involve individuals who have a history of evasion of court processes and flight, a warrant may be appropriate. However, other cases involving obligors who, for instance, have become established members of another community, may only require a summons to appear.
A first violation of the CSRA is considered a Class “B” misdemeanor with a maximum sentence of 6 months incarceration. As a “petty offense” there is no right to a trial by jury. A second or subsequent violation of the CSRA is considered a Class “E” felony with a maximum sentence of 2 years incarceration. In such a case, the right to a trial by jury would attach.
1. Lack of Venue – discussed above.
2. Ex Post Facto application of the statute, i.e. whether an arrearage in the amount of $5,000 must accrue after the time of the enactment of the CSRA, or whether an obligation must have remained unpaid for a period of one year commencing after the enactment of the statute. A violation of the CSRA should be viewed as a continuing offense.6 As such, the failure to pay for a period of one year, even where only one day of that failure occurred after October of 1992, would defeat that defense. Likewise, where an arrearage has become greater than $5,000, and has remained unpaid for any period of time after the enactment of the CSRA, no Ex Post Facto defense should be available.
3. Statute of Limitations – as noted above, the CSRA should be viewed as a continuing offense. As such, assuming a violation of this statute has occurred, at least in part, within five years of the charging date, no such defense should prevail.
4. Payment-in-kind – Often, a “non-paying” parent will provide other assistance to his or her children, such as food, clothing, tuition or other direct financial assistance not recorded or known to the child support agency monitoring the case. Such “payments” may bear upon the issue of willfulness.
5. Lopez, etc. – Challenges to the statute under the Interstate Commerce Clause, the 10th Amendment, etc., have been brought in virtually every contested case. The four circuits which have ruled on these challenges have upheld the CSRA. Other appeals are pending.7
Applicability of the Sentencing Guidelines
The Sentencing Guidelines do not apply to a first violation of the CSRA because it is considered a Class “B” misdemeanor. With respect to a second or subsequent violation of the CSRA, the Sentencing Guidelines are applicable, however no guideline for this offense exists. Therefore, sentencing should be based on the most analogous offense, which is theft. See U.S. Sentencing Guideline § 2B1.1.
In addition to imprisonment and fines, the CSRA provides that upon conviction the court shall order restitution in an amount equal to the past due support obligation as it exists at the time of sentencing. 18 U.S.C. § 228(c); for general information see Prosecutor’s Guide to Criminal Fines and Restitution.8
Among the conditions of probation you should consider seeking in these cases are that the defendant:
1. “Support his dependents and meet other family responsibilities,” and “(c)omply with the terms of any court order or order of an administrative process pursuant to the law of a State, the District of Columbia, or an other possession or territory of the United States requiring payments by the defendant for the support and maintenance of a child or of a child and the parent with whom the child is living.”9
2. “Work conscientiously at suitable employment or pursue conscientiously a course of study or vocational training that will equip him for suitable employment.10
3. “Work in community service as directed by the court.”11
4. Appear at all scheduled state/local court child support hearings.
5. Prepare, execute and/or file all forms required by state and federal tax laws.
Criminal Division Contacts 12
Any questions or suggestions concerning the CSRA may be directed to Janis Kockritz or Craig Wolf in the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, at 202-514-5780.
1 Interstate flight is not an element of the offense.
2 Specific remedies are identified in Appendix 4.
3 In some states, the State Attorney General or the County District Attorneys may enforce child support obligations.
4 A list of the IV-D criminal non-support contacts in each state who are responsible for ensuring the referral of appropriate cases to the United States Attorney’s Offices for federal prosecutive screening is attached as Appendix 5.)
5 The CSRA currently has no provision specifying where venue may appropriately lie. The Department is recommending amendation of the statute to allow for venue in any place where the obligor or child resided during the period of non-payment.
Challenges relating to the selection of the appropriate venue are currently on appeal. See, United States v. Murphy, 934 F.Supp. 736 (1996), on appeal to the 4th Circuit (holding that venue is only appropriate where the obligation is due to be paid, comparing the CSRA to tax payment cases). See also, United States v. Crawford, (E.D.Mo. 1996), on appeal to the 8th Circuit (holding that venue is appropriate where the child resides).
6 See, United States v. Hampshire, 892 F.Supp. 1327 (D.Kan. 1995), aff’d, 1996 W.L. 514996 (lOth Cir. 1996).
7 A list of case citations is attached as Appendix 6.
8 The Prosecutors Guide to Criminal Fines and Restitution can be obtained by contacting Lynn Solien, Associate Director for Financial Litigation of the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys at 202-616-6444.
9 18 U.S.C. § 3563(b)(1)+(21)
10 18 U.S.C. § 3563(b)(5)
11 18 U.S.C. § 3563(b)(13)
12 A list of the CSRA Coordinators in each USAO is attached as Appendix 7.
NOTE: Attachments not included.
MORE IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE FORCED INTO PEONAGE, INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE and/or FORCED LABOR:
18 U.S.C. § 1581. Section 1581 of Title 18 makes it unlawful to hold a person in “debt servitude,” or peonage, which is closely related to involuntary servitude. Section 1581 prohibits using force, the threat of force, or the threat of legal coercion to compel a person to work against his/her will. In addition, the victim’s involuntary servitude must be tied to the payment of a debt.
18 U.S.C. § 1584. Section 1584 of Title 18 makes it unlawful to hold a person in a condition of slavery, that is, a condition of compulsory service or labor against his/her will. A Section 1584 conviction requires that the victim be held against his/her will by actual force, threats of force, or threats of legal coercion. Section 1584 also prohibits compelling a person to work against his/her will by creating a “climate of fear” through the use of force, the threat of force, or the threat of legal coercion [i.e., If you don’t work, I’ll call the immigration officials.] which is sufficient to compel service against a person’s will.
18 U.S.C. § 1589. Section 1589 of Title 18, which was passed as part of the TVPA, makes it unlawful to provide or obtain the labor or services of a person through one of three prohibited means. Congress enacted § 1589 in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Kozminski, 487 U.S. 931 (1988), which interpreted § 1584 to require the use or threatened use of physical or legal coercion. Section 1589 broadens the definition of the kinds of coercion that might result in forced labor.
27 Responses to “CONTEMPT OF COURT”
I’m going to fight this illegal child support system. No jurisdiction…..
I been a stay at home dad for the last 6 years. I have 2 support orders and could not support the family on my income. My girl is owed support and has never ever received. This is a big reason that she went to work and I stayed home.( I could not support 3 families on my income.)
I had a few State technical licenses that I tested and paid for.
While I was a stay at home dad Child support suspended all my licenses and certifications.
I did the right thing for the children. I did what I had to do to feed my children.
so by doing this My family lived in subsidized housing, and received 200 to 700 in Snap funds. An average of 700 a month.
Grand total of governmental grants over 60,000.00 dollars in 6 half years. More than I owe in child support. Sad thing is her ex owes her the same amount as I do for 2 supports.
The law is backfiring. creating huge american debts.
We are at over 100 billion dollars in child support debt. The biggest accrue for our national debt, and the United states government is borrowing on the owed money.
Federal Government is stealing plus the
D.A. has to much power!
Admin.Response John this is one of the most insightful comments we have on here. Children are used as pawns to quench their Greed… And look at what this has done and is doing to this Country. My prayers are with you and your family. FATHER BLESS jim
Russell L. Jackson says:
Mr. President Please help. I am a disabled veteran of the united states marine corps and child support has killed the rest of my life. I’m now on my death bed because of ohio child support.
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Omar Norwood says:
Hello, I would like to address the contempt issue that the courts have used to gain criminal convictions on custodial parents. This practice is in contradiction to the states and US Constitutions which state that no one will be jailed for owing a debt. The constitutional provisions for this should have been upheld, but the current system disregards this fact. We must all demand that the courts reinstate this right and not attempt to get around it. We must restore our constitution.
Jamie R Frazier says:
child support exceeding 30% of income 1 kid 35% for 2 kids reduced if custodial patrent has another kid or is marreied . assets such as cars house boats should not be used to determine monthly payments. in the event of no contact Or reduce contact (not of harmful nature) college fund secure account. poverty decreases 25 % every year
I am about to face jail time because of contempt of CS. I have my kids almost half of the week, I have to pay for clothes because their mothers send them with none, I have to buy food for them, I have to make sure my bills are paid so they can come to their dads house, and I’m unemployed and collect 200 in food stamps per month. And STILL I’M GOING TO JAIL unless I pay 200 plus 70 a week to CS in 30 days, how do i do that with no money?
Kearnice Taylor says:
MALE CONTRACEPTION AND MALE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS… The only counter that men have for female imprisonment and governmental tyranny
Damon M. Maddox says:
Ive been going through hell with the FOC for years . I have been put on parole & ive never been to prison . Ive been drug tested & jailed with the only so called crime ive committed was not beening able to pay child support . I been on house arrest without permission to go to work which cause me to loose my job . I have warrents for my arrest to this day & a felony on my record & im no longer allowed to drive . I am a man who has finnished high , served my country & obtain my college degree . I have not seen my daughter in over 4 years & I miss her very much . I was just wondering if their were someone who would be willing to help me out in this fight for my life . If so I thank you in advance .
Sick of these bastards’ OPPRESSION!!!!
This system refuses to consider reality and makes up their own cases without facts. Refused appeal. Denied that I was an independent business person with business expenses. Their “estimate” of income was thirty thousand dollars more than I actually made.
I’m going through a very similar situation. CS is squeezing me for every penny that I work hard for just to make ends meet, meanwhile the mother stays at home collecting welfare.
Kirk Woodruff says:
Reform what? The system needs to be destroyed because it destroys lives.
My husband has been thrown in jail 2 times since November and Is currently having to go back May 3rd. Yes he owes back child support but he is a VET that has had a hard time find and keeping a job since he has been out. We live in Hud housing and our son is on ISS for his disability. 3 times he went to court asking for his support to be lowered so he could afford to pay it while his ex who lives one block from us refused to let him see his son for 4 yrs, the judge refused to lower it. Then (same judge) refused to violate his ex for keeping his son from him. The last time he went to court he was supposed to start a job the next morning and $500 to put toward the back child support, he was denied and was thrown in jail so his support got way behind. This needs to stop!!!!
Asher selindh says:
Thanks for this web page will we be able to see if this gets anything done?
Ive been on both sides of this…I paid child support on my two older children but now that is over and I’m battling my youngest daughter’s father in paying support. I’m a stay at home mother and a student and I have been court ordered to put my two year old in day care. Her father has been ordered to pay her daycare and I get what is left and he’s behind in paying that…is it a violation of my civil rights to be forced to put my daughter in day care when I’m a stay at home homeschool parent?
The system is Jacked and I thank you for your help.
warren d mccoy says:
THE SYSTEM IS F%CKWD UP
Holly Billings says:
Massachusetts Family Courts violate servicemen AND veterans –
SYSTEM IS SET UP UNFAIRLY
Isaac G Ramirez says:
I am currently stuck in this hell and have had my bank account frozen and I know the license is next, what a corrupt fucked up system! To boot I have never been in any trouble in my life Now I have to deal with this indentured servitude!