PINEVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Bell County Attorney Neil Ward says offenders can volunteer to hold a large sign in a public place that reads "I do not pay child support." In addition, he says they will have to start making child support payments.
"This is another option to hold people accountable for child support," Ward told the Middlesboro Daily News. "It's not about humiliating or embarrassing anyone. It's about holding people accountable."
Ward says he got the idea after seeing shoplifters holding signs that stated the crime they committed. He said the alternative sentence is voluntary and offered as an option to an offender who is facing jail time. So far, he says three people, all who were serving jail sentences for non-payment, have opted to participate in the program.
Ward said the first participants agreed to hold signs for four eight-hour shifts but future participants will be required to hold signs for 10 four-hour shifts.
Ward said he hopes to get the public's attention with the program and to get people to start paying their child support payments.
Updated: 04/18/2013 - CHING-YI-LIN HAS MANY TITLES... AMONG THEM... BEING A WORLD CLASS VIOLINIST. YET HER GREATEST ROLE... IS BRINGING HER PASSION FOR MUSIC TO HER STUDENTS IN THE BOWLING GREEN COMMUNITY. ¤2 ]] C1.5 G 0 [[ TALENT=GENE ¶GENE: OUR LINDSEY YATES SPOKE WITH CHING-YI... ABOUT LIFE LESSONS SHE HAS BEEN TAUGHT THROUGH PLAYING THE VIOLIN. AND HOW SHE HOPES TO INSTILL THOSE TRAITS IN HER STUDENTS. CHING YI LIN.
Updated: 01/21/2013 - Courtney Davis, the founder of Ingen Art Gallery and Studio, sits down to talk with us about her motivations for turning her dream into a reality.
Updated: 08/15/2012 - A local dentist answered the "Is there a doctor on board?" page on an United Airlines flight, and became a Hometown Hero.
Posted: 06/15/2012 - Board of Regents approves increase.
