But No one but those involved may be allowed to attend the trial. The public will not be allowed to view the filings and documents that were made or the history of the case. I do not have the right to a public trial, nor will I be given the right to have a jury trial, and if I'm found "guilty" and go to jail, when I get out I can be tried for the same thing again and put back behind bars. My bank accounts were frozen then seized by the state yet I don't quality for a public defender. So what have I done to face imprisonment without being allowed the rights of criminal trials? I am behind on my family court ordered support order payments. I've paid a consistent amount each month that I can afford while still keeping my home, but am ordered to pay much more. The court uses an application for a mortgage I made in 2006 to establish my income, not current information. I've tried multiple times to get the amount lowered and based on current accurate information, but to no avail.

It's a whole other issue that in 2010 my kids and I lost free access to each other in a court hearing that also had none of those safeguards to guard against injustice and no rules of evidence. Such important determinations in childrens' and parents lives deserve the higher level of scrutiny that trials involving even a $50 fine enjoy.

The saddest thing is that my story is not uncommon. Many children and parents have been damaged by our system that encourages parents and the state to treat children like little bags of money. In my personal case, all sorts of cards are stacked against me, and I expect to go to jail. But so many are touched by this system and I encourage you to send a simple email or letter to your state representative if you think something about this system doesn't seem right. Keep this issue in mind when it is time to make your federal vote, because the federal government pays each state a kickback based on the amount the state collects in support orders. So the more the State orders and collects in support, the more money they get from the federal government. The court that claims to make decisions in the best interest of the children do not know or love our children and instead treat them as a revenue stream. Children are the most vulnerable and effected victims in many of these situations and they have no voice in our political system. Our children need you to advocate for them and the parents that love them.