| Currently, around 1.5 million children have parents who | | | | due to imprisonment, their child support obligations |
| have criminal backgrounds and are spending their time | | | | may have to be fulfilled. Many parents who get |
| in prison. There are around 10 million children in the US | | | | released from prison, and do not have custody of |
| whose parents have been convicted and imprisoned | | | | their child, fail to get their child support orders |
| at some point. Once released from prison, these | | | | modified. In some cases where these orders are not |
| parents can major challenges pertaining to family life, | | | | modified, a serious problem regarding child support |
| which includes reuniting with their family or obtaining | | | | arrearages may arise. To avoid possible penalties such |
| custody or visitation rights with a criminal record. | | | | as government sanctions and a reduction in wages, if |
| There are several law firms in the US that represent | | | | employed, you would be wise to consult an attorney |
| the rights of individuals who have been imprisoned. | | | | to find out where you stand legally on your particular |
| Many of these law agencies indicate, parents who | | | | matter. For example, once released from prison, you |
| have been convicted of a crime often believe that | | | | would do well to consult an attorney in your |
| they will not be able to seek custody of their | | | | jurisdiction to learn if filing a petition to modify child |
| children. However, that may or may not be true. If | | | | custody and support is in your best interest. |
| the parent has not been convicted in a separate | | | | When a parent applies for a child custody |
| category of crimes, he may have equal right to retain | | | | modification, the details regarding his/her criminal |
| custody of the child. | | | | record and his/her current employment may be |
| Whenever a parent is imprisoned or released from | | | | exposed through discovery to determine background |
| prison, he/she should consider consulting an attorney | | | | information. Any parent who has a history of child |
| to learn what his/her options are regarding child | | | | abuse or child endangerment will likely be faced with |
| custody and support orders. Often, parents fail to | | | | limitations with respect to their rights to custody. |
| understand that although their income has stopped | | | | |