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That 10 taken into custody April 23 are a Band-Aid on deepening financial wounds of families not receiving child support.

"We have 700 warrants that are outstanding," said Friend of the Court Emil Joseph. "These are individuals that have not appeared at their hearing or complied with payment plans. It is a last resort."

The county targeted 35 in the sweep.

"The Lapeer County Sheriff's Department knocked on doors," Joseph said. "Of those 35, 10 were placed in custody. Eight posted bond and two were incarcerated and arraigned."

The recent bench warrant sweep will be one of several held this year in an ongoing endeavor to obtain support money for county kids. The efforts are funded by a filing fee on some paperwork, imposed by the Michigan State Legislature.

The Friend of the Court collects about $15 million for support of county children each year. About 80% of that is from income withholding on paychecks. Other funds are obtained through garnishment of state and federal tax refunds or liens on Worker's Compensation checks or personal injury lawsuits.

"You spend about 90% of your time on 10% of the cases," Joseph said.

Each year Joseph's office handles about 6,000 cases -- and numbers continue to climb.

"Our overall case load continues to grow," Joseph said. "More and more people are separating. The economy is one of the primary reasons. As the overall cases increase, so do the delinquencies."

The warrant sweeps will continue and there are ongoing talks with other counties to serve mutual arrest warrants on deadbeat parents. But arrests are the last measure -- one that Joseph, and the non paying parent want to avoid.

"My office isn't trying to arrest people," he said. "We're just interested in them complying with the court order. Arrangements can made. Judges always look more favorably on someone who is trying and has a plan. It's better if they turn themselves in, instead of being arrested."

Problems are also incurred by some parents in the system don't report a change of address as they're required to.

"We send out notices about their hearing, and if they no longer reside there, they probably don't get them," said Joseph. "If they're not at the hearing, then we order a bench warrant. Someone may not know there is a warrant out for their arrest."

Case information, including bench warrant status, is available to Friend of the Court clientele using an Interactive Voice Response System. Access the 24 hour, seven days a week system by phoning (877) 543-2660. An individual with an outstanding bench warrant who wishes to resolve it should phone (810) 667-0377 and schedule an appointment with their caseworker.

Susan Younger may be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8122 or susan.younger@lapeergroup.com.