Department of Social Services
For More Information: Alisa DeMers, 773-3609

State Distributes Most Wanted Poster to Find Child Support Offenders

(Pierre) -- Gov. Bill Janklow has unveiled South Dakota’s latest "Most Wanted" child support poster, featuring four of the state’s most evasive child support offenders. 

"The vast majority of parents not living with their children really do care about and try to support their children," Janklow said. "However, the people on this poster don’t consider payment of their child support a priority in their lives, and their kids are the ones who suffer."

Issued by the state’s Department of Social Services, this year’s poster features three men and one woman who owe, in total, more than $125,000 in back support to their children. 

Since the start of the Most Wanted poster in 1995, the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OSCE) has collected more than $221,000 from 35 of the 50 parents featured on the posters. 

"The Most Wanted poster has helped catch some of the state’s most evasive child support offenders," Janklow said. "The posters also send a strong message to others that may think they can get away with not supporting their children."

The OCSE will send the posters to post offices, local law enforcement agencies, government offices and child support agencies in other states. The poster is also available on the state’s Child Support Enforcement Web site. 

People with information or tips on the whereabouts of those on the poster should call the OCSE at (605) 773-3641 or send an email to cse@dss.state.sd.us.

"The Most Wanted posters have helped us locate noncustodial parents I never thought we would find," said Terry Walter, OCSE Program Administrator. "When the OCSE has exhausted all other location and enforcement methods, we turn to the public to help track down these offenders. Our agency is pleased with the response we have received."

Walter said the OCSE collected $61.7 million in child support during state fiscal year 2001 (July 1, 2000 to June 30, 2001).