The following excerpt is from an editorial published Sunday in the King County Journal. It does not necessarily reflect the views of The Spokesman-Review’s editorial board.

Law enforcement is giving kids in King County a helping hand this month. Deadbeat parents are being rounded up and made to cough up the child-support payments they owe. We’re cheered at the news.

In the last two weeks, 61 scofflaws, who owe from $3,225 to $106,101 in back support for their kids, have spent time in the King County Jail. They then face a judge who works out a payment plan for them to take care of their kids. Many more still are ducking their responsibility. …

When dads or moms don’t pay the court-ordered child support, one of two bad things happens. The remaining parent either must scrimp to make ends meet while trying to provide necessities for the child, or the public steps in if the family has no resources. Regardless, it’s children who suffer.

The amount owed in child-support payments is staggering, testimony to how little some people care about their children.

Since January 1999, $3.5 million in back payments has been collected by the Support Enforcement Unit. That includes more than $726,000 in payments for the first three months of this year.

This isn’t just a local problem. Nationwide, $1.8 billion in child support was owed in 2002. And while 87 percent of the cases involved fathers, plenty of moms skip out on their kids, too.

While the support unit has produced remarkable results, it’s unfortunate that it doesn’t continue year-round. Kids don’t just suffer from lack of support in June.