Final answer:
Contempt of court is the correct answer for a parent failing to meet child-support payments as it represents a violation of a court order.
Step-by-step explanation:
The example of a parent who reneges on child-support payments and should be forced to pay or be sent to prison is best described as Contempt of Court. Contempt of court occurs when an individual disobeys a court order or disrupts court proceedings. In the context of child support, a parent who fails to make court-ordered payments is defying a legal obligation, essentially breaking an agreement with the court which, in turn, can lead to punitive actions including financial penalties or imprisonment.