ROCKINGHAM – Parents wanted for alimony failure could take a break within the next two weeks.

Richmond County Child Support Services is extending its hours to help those with pending arrest warrants make arrangements during Child Support Awareness Month.

If arrested, delinquent parents can be jailed on bail equal to their debts, according to childcare supervisor Jennifer Crudo-Allen.

Richmond County Jail Records show that eight parents out of 100 inmates are currently incarcerated for nonpayment and most other criminal charges.

Donnie Edward Wallace Jr., the only one imprisoned for sole maintenance, has a $ 3,500 cash loan. Aaron Keith Covington, who is also facing drug charges, has a $ 6,000 cash loan. The others owe between $ 350 and $ 3,500.

In the past, the amnesty event offered a reduced bond of $ 500 to get the OFAs done.

“This year we made a decision to look at every single situation and work with that person,” she said, adding that each situation is different in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. “So we’ll bring you in, talk to you, see what you can do, and get you a court date and deal with your orders.”

The office is open from August 9th to 12th and August 16th to 19th from 8am to 7pm, on August 13th and 20th from 8am to 5pm and Saturday, August 14th from 9am to 12pm.

“We’re trying to help people who can’t come here,” said Crudo-Allen. “Maybe they work … sometimes people work outside of the county so we figured we’d stay open until 7am

Saturday to help those who really need a different time to come here. “

Janessa France, access and visit coordinator, will also be there on Saturday to answer questions.

There will also be information on job vacancies in Counties of Richmond and Scotland.

After the two-week amnesty project, Crudo-Allen said her office would work with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office to back up those with pending orders.

“If we don’t take care of it in these two weeks, there will be a raid … to get some of those arrest warrants done,” she said. “There is a lot, there are many children who do not receive child benefit, who need this support.”

According to Crudo-Allen, there are currently 265 cases with 205 parents who have an arrest warrant.

“We don’t want anyone going to jail because of course the kids don’t get anything when they go to jail,” she said. “And our prisons are overcrowded anyway, so we want to offer them help … we want to help everyone we can.”

For more information, call 910-410-1193.