A Few Mistakes Are Too Many

It was bad enough when Walter Vollmer mistakenly received a child support bill for $206,000. Worse still that it took the 56-year-old Saugus mechanic 2 1/2 months to prove to Los Angeles County prosecutors that they wanted a different Walter Vollmer. Worst of all, though, is that Vollmer’s case is hardly unique.

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office has incorrectly labeled hundreds of men “deadbeat dads,” attaching their wages, ruining their credit reports and wreaking havoc with their lives. For instance, Vollmer’s wife of 32 years said she considered suicide because of the stress. Meanwhile, fathers and mothers who really have skipped out on their obligations remain untouched.

Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti defends the Bureau of Family Support Operations with the argument that a few mistakes are a small price to pay for cracking down on irresponsible parents. Garcetti is correct that aggressive steps are necessary to squeeze money out of reluctant parents. Los Angeles County’s collection and coordination efforts have historically been among the worst in the state, prompting calls for tougher action.

Increasing the pressure on the county are federal laws that require states to identify 90% of the fathers of children born out of wedlock by 1999. In about 80% of the cases handled by Los Angeles County, child support collections reimburse the state for welfare payments. Before receiving public assistance, women must fill out a form identifying the father or fathers of their children. Not all get the names right.

Yes, aggressive enforcement is necessary. But the “guilty until proven innocent” approach to collections goes too far. More than 500 men have taken blood tests to prove their innocence. Even after they clear their names, though, many of the falsely accused men still face legal bills. Some fear what will happen when the national registry of child support orders can be compared to the national registry for new hires.

Over the past three years, Los Angeles County has made measurable progress in finding deadbeat dads and forcing them to pay up. The county, at least, has a computerized tracking system--a necessity the state still has not implemented. But stories like Vollmer’s should remind prosecutors and county officials that aggressive enforcement must not trample the rights of the innocent.