Frequency of License Suspension and Civil Contempt in Child Support

License suspension and civil contempt have long served as mainstays for enforcing child support orders when obligors do not pay the support they owe. Yet, among growing concerns about their consequences, much remains unknown about when and how they are used. In this study, we aim to: (1) examine how and when license suspension and civil contempt are used in one state; and (2) identify potential disparities in use by obligor characteristics. We use an explanatory mixed methods approach, drawing on both state administrative records and interviews with child support agency staff, to investigate how often and under what conditions these tools are used. Obligors experienced contempt-related enforcement actions more frequently than license suspension-related actions and threats occurred more frequently than imposition. This aligns with interviews which suggested that staff take a range of other actions before warnings and sanctions. We also identified changes in frequency of use of these tools pre- and post-issuance of the 2016 Final Rule and find differences in use and staff approaches by obligor characteristics. Findings highlight the role of proactive outreach strategies in building trust and affecting child support compliance. Additionally, we find a decrease in contempt actions over time, following policy guidance, suggesting that official guidance may be effective in steering practice and possibly increasing consistency in use of tools. Finally, because different approaches may work for different obligors, a multipronged approach may be needed.