Father wants to see son after 12 years of being gone and another problem

[momof32014]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio
I have a different type of problem. I am a mom of a 12 year old son. His father and I split up when my son was 4 months old. We had a court order done for visitation and child support done when he was 2 years old. His father has not payed child support or seen my son since then.
The problem is his father is an offender and wants visits after this long. He started paying child support about a month ago. Now he thinks that everything is just going to go back to the way it was 12 years ago.
What should I do? What rights does he have?

 

[Zigner]

What do you man by "offender"?

 

[Ladyback1]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio
I have a different type of problem. I am a mom of a 12 year old son. His father and I split up when my son was 4 months old. We had a court order done for visitation and child support done when he was 2 years old. His father has not payed child support or seen my son since then.
The problem is his father is an offender and wants visits after this long. He started paying child support about a month ago. Now he thinks that everything is just going to go back to the way it was 12 years ago.
What should I do? What rights does he have?

When you say "offender", is it a sexual offender?
Unless "no contact with children, or no unsupervised contact with children" is part of his Probation & Parole, then he most likely can visit per the original order.

If it were me, I'd file for a modification of the visitation and support order. In my opinion "Daddy just got released from prison for a sexual offense" would be a significant change of circumstance. I'd ask for at the very minimum a graduated period of visitation, that starts with 4-6 visits supervised in a 3 mo. period, then 4-6 short (say 4 hrs) unsupervised in a 3 mo. period, and work up to full visitation, with the caveat that if at any point, Dad fails to exercise his allotted time in the stated period, then he has to start over (say he only make 3 visits in the 3 month period), and that Daddy has to pay at least 1/2 of any fees associated with supervision.

But, that is just my opinion and it is worth what you paid for it!
I know there are far more legally versed volunteers here who can provide more in depth answers.

 

[momof32014]

He is a sex offender. I dont know the whole story all I do know is it was a minor girl.

 

[Ladyback1]

He is a sex offender. I dont know the whole story all I do know is it was a minor girl.

Does OH have a department of corrections website that shows what he was convicted of and who is currently supervising him? (Assuming he is on P&P. If he's not on P&P, this a moot point). If he is currently on supervision, the website may tell you what Pre-Release/Half-way house and/or P&P office that is overseeing his release.

 

[single317dad]

Does OH have a department of corrections website that shows what he was convicted of and who is currently supervising him? (Assuming he is on P&P. If he's not on P&P, this a moot point). If he is currently on supervision, the website may tell you what Pre-Release/Half-way house and/or P&P office that is overseeing his release.

http://www.drc.ohio.gov/OffenderSearch/search.aspx

http://www.icrimewatch.net/index.php?AgencyID=55149

Hamilton County: http://www.courtclerk.org/queries.asp

Cuyahoga County: http://cpdocket.cp.cuyahogacounty.us/Search.aspx

Franklin County: http://www.fcmcclerk.com/case/rs/search.php

Ohio does not appear to have a comprehensive statewide criminal court database. I'm sure one of our Ohio seniors will correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Proserpina]

When did the offense take place?

How long was he incarcerated?

 

[momof32014]

It happened about 6 or 7 years ago. He spent 6 years in jail.

 

[Isis1]

It happened about 6 or 7 years ago. He spent 6 years in jail.

head to court. file a modification of visitation due to length of absence. you are requesting supervised visitation for a period of time. therapy sessions to break the ice and to guide father in re-establishing a relationship with his child.

get the terms on his parole. make sure you are clear he is allowed to be around his own child. check with his parole officer.

 

[mommyanme]

http://www.drc.ohio.gov/OffenderSearch/search.aspx

http://www.icrimewatch.net/index.php?AgencyID=55149

Hamilton County: http://www.courtclerk.org/queries.asp

Cuyahoga County: http://cpdocket.cp.cuyahogacounty.us/Search.aspx

Franklin County: http://www.fcmcclerk.com/case/rs/search.php

Ohio does not appear to have a comprehensive statewide criminal court database. I'm sure one of our Ohio seniors will correct me if I'm wrong.

The DRC site you listed is the statewide site and probably the best OP will get with a record number which can be given to the P&P office in her county and the record pulled.
http://www.familywatchdog.us/ seems to work fairly well