Support payments

§ 16–2350. Support payments (a) Security; Probation; Commitment for Default. The court may require a defendant, against whom a judgment is rendered pursuant to this subchapter, to give security not to exceed $2,500 guaranteeing payments ordered by the court, or may suspend the requirement of security and place the defendant on probation to the court on condition that payments be made as ordered. In default of a payment as ordered, the Court may revoke probation and commit the defendant to jail for a period of not more than one year at any one time. At the expiration of a term of commitment, the court may discharge the defendant, but his liability to make subsequent payments or any payments in arrears at the time of commitment in accordance with the judgment or for commitment for further default is not thereby affected. In lieu of commitment or as a condition of his release from jail, the court may set aside commitment and again place the defendant on probation upon such terms as it directs. The amount of security, if forfeited, shall be disbursed as the court directs. (b) Judgment for Arrears; Execution. If there is a default of payments as ordered, the court, after notice by registered mail to the ant at his last-known address, and after hearing, may reduce the amount of arrears to judgment. The court, after the notice and hearing, may reduce to judgment the arrears under any order hereafter entered for the support and maintenance of a child born out of wedlock, or any amounts ordered to be paid by the defendant under this subchapter. When the judgment is docketed in the clerk’s office of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, it has the same force and effect as judgments of that court, and execution thereon may be effected in the same manner as upon judgments of that court.