Buchanan District Attorney Ron Holliday announced Monday that the Child Alimony Enforcement Department raised $ 18,470,401 in criminal child alimony in his office in 2020.

“I am proud of the work the child support department has done in a very challenging year for all of us due to COVID-19,” he said. “We have seen an overall slowdown in the legal process that was certainly to be expected.” expected during this dangerous pandemic. We also had multiple infections in the office and times when we just had to shut down to protect employees from further infections. “

The child benefit department handled 6,100 cases, established paternity in 266 cases, and filed withholdings decisions in 5,824 cases during the year, Holliday said.

“Our office is not about applying for prison sentences for offenders. This is the absolute last resort we consider when a parent’s request to provide court-ordered assistance is not met. We give them every opportunity to pay, “he said.” There are also opportunities in the community to help parents keep ongoing payments up, including helping them find work and improving their professional skills. We help these people to improve themselves and their situation if they want to use these programs. “