Does anyone know of a free web site where you can go and type the name of a person,which will reveal if that person is a deadbeat parent?
Down here the sheriff rewards you with $200.00 for valid infos leading to such parents.It would be nice to have such a site including pictures. It could be your new neighbor.

I don't know of any such sites but if any exist they would probably be associated with individual states since this is a state issue and not a federal one.

Doesn't that kind of process strike you as being well a bit off color? Hm?

I am still uncertain if I like the Megan Law data base simply because it feels just wrong to be able to compile a list of people and publicly post their names, pictures and location for everyone to see. Being able to do that with child molesters is one thing, but doing it for "dead beat" parents is another. Next thing you know they will be doing it for jay walkers and what not.

I am against a system that rewards turning in people with money and a system that requires its citizens to keep an eye on one another. I think of Gestapo and KGB and SS at work.

Maybe I'm just too old fashioned in my neighborly ways.

Now,deadbeat parents are criminels,you can even loose your DL here for that,among other things. But I would arrange a list with serious offenders first,(most wanted) let's say people who owe $20,000 and more,then a list with people who owe between $10,000 - $20,000.The list could start at $5,000.That,is of course an exemple.

Children are living in really bad conditions ( when they shouldn,t be) because of these individuals who won't care at all for their own children.I say make these parents pay by pointing a finger at them and help the sheriff,by reporting these sad individuals and collect the monies due.I have to take the children side.Show the future generations the weight of the responsability on putting a child on this planet.It can't be bad?

Dvd, I'm reluctant to take issue with you because I almost always agree with your posts. So I will just point out a few things.

Neighborly ways: In the small country town where I grew up, everyone knew everything (almost) about everybody. They used the information to guide their interactions.

- If someone stiffed a neighbor over the price of a load of hay, soon that 'someone' had a hard time buying hay on credit.
- If someone drove drunk and had an accident, he/she got the 'treatment' (sent to Coventry) and either reformed his/her ways or might as well leave town.
- If someone had in his/her family a genetic defect, that was a factor to consider in contemplation of marriage.

Example: There was an incestuous family in our community. Everyone knew it. (How? Those kids talked at school about things that no normally-raised children knew about in those days. And you dare not be alone with them at school or they would initiate sex 'play'.) They were ostracised. There was no point in reporting them to children's services -- such reports were ignored because 'a man's home is his castle' was the approach in those days. The system protected the individual with knowledge.

The system sometimes failed, as all systems sometimes do, because 'information' might get confused with common gossip. This was usually sorted out in time.

In these days especially in urban settings everyone is completely anonymous. So it is possible for an anti-social person to victimize someone and then just move on.

It is this latter situation which is new in terms of the human condition.

So if we use new technology to overcome the anonymity which allows innocent people to be victimized, I think that is a 'good thing.' If it means that you can find out that I jaywalked in Vancouver in March 2004, fine by me. Or that I was convicted of something. After all, that is why trials are open to the public: justice must be seen to be done.

Every one of us has more than likely done something illegal in our lifetime and not been caught or charged. Done some weed, have you? Got behind the wheel with one too many? Gone thru a red light? Driven with an expired license? Come on, Fess up! That's all we need is our neighbors becoming hero vigilante cops, we'd probably ALL be in the slammer. Listen to David's words, he's not old fashioned, just wise.

Do you know a deadbeat parent's victim Gerry? I know a guy who is looking for his former (lady) to pay child support.He is raising his 3 children alone and would really need help.She owes him over $21,000 in child support ( nice Mom) and never visits.

Most of the time the male is at fault, but the trends are changing which is even worst.Wanna trade place with this guy? Beleive me it has nothing to do with toking or burning a red light!