DCSS recognizes that incarceration for nonpayment of support can be counterproductive as it prevents parents from accessing employment that ultimately results in falling further behind on court-ordered child support. In 2009, DCSS and the superior court judges established Georgia’s first Parental Accountability Court (PAC). At the end of SFY 2020, 43 judicial circuits were offering the program as an alternative to incarceration. The program assists chronic nonpayers of child support with meeting their financial obligations through judicial oversight, parent accountability, employment and education. Services offered through the PAC program include:

  • Substance abuse treatment
  • Job assistance and placement
  • Short-term training
  • Coaching and mentoring
  • Educational services
  • Employment training
Sabrina's story about her PAC experience

By the Numbers | PAC

 

PAC map
  • 2,789 children received increased support from parents who participated in the PAC program, compared to 2,508 in SFY 2019
  • $1,657,383 in financial support was collected from parents who participated in the PAC program
  • 5,052 participants received services through PACs across the state since the beginning of the program in 2009, avoiding incarceration and saving taxpayers the cost of incarceration
  • 1,058 noncustodial parents received help on their journey to lead more self-sufficient lives as part of their enrollment in the PAC program in SFY 2020
  • 142 parents graduated from the PAC program, providing support to children who previously received partial or no support
  • $15,239,649 was collected in child support payments because of the success of noncustodial parents in the PAC program