I am a single parent, with my son's father repeatedly getting incarcerated. In Oklahoma, where we reside, the law states that inmates are exempt from child support payments during their incarceration. This policy, however, leaves me and my son unsupported during those challenging periods.

Despite being imprisoned, parents have a responsibility to their children. As per a report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, around 2.7 million children are growing up with a parent in prison. This often leaves the other parent shouldering all the financial responsibilities, exacerbating the economic challenges already faced by many single-parent families (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010).

We propose a change – a new law requiring incarcerated parents to still pay child support in some form. While we recognize the difficulty for inmates to make money while incarcerated, setting up small payment plans or readjusting the obligation to a lower amount during the incarceration period can be possible solutions.

This proposed change would not just help me, but also countless other single parents in the same position. Moreover, it reinforces the idea that parents, irrespective of their circumstances, have an ongoing duty to their children. Please sign the petition to help us bring about this necessary change.