Community Service Order: This is a community-based sanction imposed by a Judge as an alternative to a prison sentence of 12 months or less for persons aged 16 years and over.
Before imposing this sanction, the Judge may request a Community Service Report from the Probation Service to inform their decision as to whether or not you are suitable to perform Community Service work.
If, after considering the reports produced by the Probation Officer, work in the community is considered an appropriate sanction, the Judge will specify the number of hours work to be done, (between 40 - 240 hours) and what prison sentence should be imposed if you fail to complete this work. The Probation Service is responsible for informing the Court if you do not complete this work.
Every year, thousands of hours of unpaid work are provided to not-for-profit, community and voluntary grouping through CSOs. The benefits of Community Service are many and varied - but there are two principal goals: to give something back to your community for the harm that you have caused, and to provide a sanction that has the potential to provide valuable experience for the offender.
Community Service Activities Community Service Projects
General upkeep and maintenance Schools
Painting and decoration Community Centres
Gardening and landscaping Church grounds/parks
Horticulture Homeless hostels
Graffiti removal Residential centres
Recycling Charitable organisations
Further Resources
Contact us at [email protected]
Click here for a list of Probation Service offices