What are the criteria for enhanced enforcement or federal criminal referral?
For a case to qualify for federal criminal sanctions, the non-custodial parent must have: substantiated ability to pay child support; willful failure to pay for a period longer than a year; knowledge of the obligation; arrears in excess of $5,000; and unsuccessful civil enforcement actions already attempted. If a case qualifies, it may referred by the DCSE caseworker for enhanced enforcement. Please be aware that the rare decision to use a federal court will be made by the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE), and not by DCSE.
