washington obama administration final weeks plan ease legal obligations prisoners pay child support lock target practice critics say saddle ex-convicts cripple debts regulatory change put place would give president barack obama something show efforts reform u.s. criminal justice system legacy issue democrat whose time office end jan. 20. first black president nation incarcerate disproportionately large number black latino men obama make priority address problems make difficult release inmates reenter society white house official speak condition anonymity new rule final express confidence would complete obama leave office rule would require prisoners allow low amount child support pay prison goal prevent large debts inmates struggle repay release lead reincarceration republican critics say change would let parent flout financial responsibilities republican speaker house representatives paul ryan last year introduce bill block administration make change bill become law republican house aide tell reuters administration initiative would amount backdoor effort avoid legislative process criminal justice reform suppose area republicans democrats could find common grind 2016 legislative efforts stall result administration need move forward white house official say always happy sit talk congress point move forward know legally permit right official say child-support program require absent parent send money usually spouse custody help raise children prisoners little income regular child-support payments accumulate unmanageable debts ask glenn martin young father go prison six years arm robbery prison child support payments increase 400 month 50 month even though earn 40 month release martin tell reuters face 50,000 civil judgment back child support include interest say try get change judge say state law permit modifications incarceration martin go find prison reform group justleadershipusa two decades evidence say tough work say do criminalize people try move labor market state change laws child support payments prisoners modify 14 state still allow place major obstacles way obama administration issue draft regulations late 2014 would require state allow prisoners modify child support court order also require state court set order base prisoners actual income state run child support enforcement program washington set nationwide standards reimburse state 66 percent expenditures program provide incentive payments state base meet certain target final version draft rule still public send white house review july supporters say change help reduce prison populations prevent ex-convicts accrue debts make difficult find legitimate job increase likelihood could face jail time unpaid child support payments 2010 administration survey find 51,000 federal prisoners child support order almost 29,000 prisoners behind payments average amount owe nearly 24,000 child support system exist today lot ways become ... major driver mass incarceration say rebecca vallas manage director poverty prosperity program center american progress washington think tank obama plan overhaul child support payment rule prisoners