How Community Service Works
The Probation Service is responsible for Community Service in Ireland as provided for under the Criminal Justice (Community Service) Act 1983 (Link to legislation). The Probation Service assesses suitability of offenders for Community Service, organises the work placements and manages the offenders subject to Community Service Orders on behalf of the Court.
What type of work is done by offenders on Community Service?
Community Service offers offenders, through unpaid work on Community Service, an opportunity to repair the harm done to the community. Community Service works on tasks that that would not otherwise be done and which benefit communities, neighbourhoods, voluntary, community and charitable organisations, local schools and a variety of individual members of the community.
Community Service work can include:
· ground clearance work and general gardening projects;
· graffiti removal; environmental work;
· recycling projects;
· basic building maintenance and landscaping;
· improvements to park and community facilities;
· painting and decorating in community centres etc;
· assisting voluntary and community clubs, facilities and bodies;
· working with individuals or groups in need;
· supporting local initiatives;
The Probation Service supervises the Community Service Order on behalf of the Court using group and individual work placements in communities. Each offender is carefully assessed before they are assigned to a work project or placement.
Community Service Orders are managed in two ways:
· in small work groups supervised directly by the Probation Service
· in individual placements where the accepting organisation provides supervision
Community Service provides the labour and some basic tools and the communities or organisations providing the tasks are expected to provide the materials, for example paint, plants or building materials.
A Community Service work sponsor will need to:
· have work that needs doing and that does not deprive anyone else of paid employment;
· have appropriate Public Liability insurance cover. This is to ensure that any incident, which occurs as a result of negligence on the part of the organisation, is adequately covered by the insurance policy.
The matter of injury or damage by Community Service personnel or offenders in the course of Community Service is managed by the Probation Service under State indemnity through the State Claims Agency.
Can I obtain further information on Community Service?
To download information leaflets click on the links below:
· What Community Service can offer your Organisation
· Information for Communities and Organisations providing individual work placements
· A brief guide to what to expect when placed on a Community Service Order
