The problem seems particularly pervasive in Johnson County, where offenders regularly try to hide assets and find other ways to evade payment, 6News' Ben Morriston reported.

David Hoffman, 45, was jailed for failing to pay child support. He's $10,000 behind in his payments.

"Miss a month here, miss a month there because I didn't have the money and just got behind like that," Hoffman said.

Reginald Moons tops the county's deadbeat parent list. He owes a little more than $100,000 Cooper said, while James Blair owes $54,000.

"(We're taking) a more proactive approach of trying to locate the assets that people have and are hiding from us and from the people they owe them to," Cooper said.

Tricia Brown's 10-year-old daughter should be receiving $125 weekly from her dad. He was also jailed for failing to pay.

"It helps with school clothes. It helps with everything," Brown said. "I mean, times are hard."

Jailed parents argue that they can't look for work while behind bars.

"If you don't put him in jail, they're never going to pay it," Cooper said.

Cooper hopes the effort spurs a record amount of back child support payments.

"If you're supposed to pay that $500, that's what you're going to pay, or you'll end up right here where I'm at," Hoffman said.

Arrest warrants were issued for the top 20 deadbeat parents in Johnson County. Six others were already jailed for failing to pay child support.