After launching a social media campaign this week intended to name and shame deadbeat parents who haven’t paid child support, the office of Arizona Governor Doug Ducey has unveiled a website where users can submit tips to the state’s Department of Economic Security.
As of Thursday, the website for Mr. Ducey, a Republican, includes a form where Arizonans can submit tips concerning child support evaders for the state’s newest social media campaign, #deadbeat. If a person owes more than $5,000 in child support, is wanted by the authorities and has not made a payment in at least six month, than the DES will consider posting their name, photograph and other information on the web and through social media.
Mr. Ducey first announced details of his social media campaign during his State of the State address on Monday this week, and by that afternoon the DES had already began posting the names and images of fugitives through its official Twitter account. The state has since alerted its social media followers to no fewer than four of the 421 individuals wanted for failing to pay child support, and the addition of an online tip submission form has since been rolled out in hopes of acquiring new information that the agency can use to expand its efforts further.
“For too long, you’ve been able to remain anonymous — able to skirt your financial and legal responsibilities with no shame. Not anymore,” Mr. Ducey, 51, said during Monday’s address.
“It’s simple. If you’re old enough to father a child, then you’re old enough to accept financial responsibility for that child. If you don’t want your embarrassing — unlawful — and irresponsible behavior going viral: Man up, and pay up,” he said, referring to child support evaders elsewhere in his address as “losers.”
Tasya Peterson, a DES spokeswoman, told CNN that Arizona has been required by law since 1999 to post the pictures and information of evaders to the department’s website, but said that Mr. Ducey and Tim Jeffries, who was appointed director of DES by the governor last year, “are aiming to amplify these efforts using social media.”
SEE ALSO: FBI treating Philadelphia police shooting as terrorist attack
“This issue is about awareness and accountability,” she said.
“The governor has no sympathy for men who aren’t meeting their obligations to their children,” spokesman Daniel Scarpinato added to CNN. “The governor intends to track them down any way we can.” Deadbeat parents owe Arizona $1.74 billion, Mr. Ducey said this week, including $20 million in back pay owed by the 421 criminals the DES plans to target through its campaign.
• Andrew Blake can be reached at ablake@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.