Probation Service develops Community Service Graffiti Removal Project - February 2009
Why have a Community Service Graffiti Project?
Graffiti has been an issue for many years, defacing every surface imaginable from public buildings to private homes, children’s playgrounds to bus shelters. Nowhere is immune. The negative impact of graffiti should not be underestimated. Whole neighbourhoods feel the demoralising effect as their area is daubed in unsightly graffiti and clean up is costly.
In 2007, the Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government expressed their desire to address the increasing problem of graffiti in Dublin. Having reviewed the established systems for combating the problem, the Probation Service developed a comprehensive response through the use of Community Service.
"The appearance of a community is a key feature in encouraging social and economic activity and in identifying it as a desirable place to live, work and do business in.”
Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government, Mr. John Gormley T.D.
What is Community Service?
Community Service is a sentence imposed by the Courts as a direct alternative to custody. The Community Service order consists of two elements: (i) the number of hours unpaid work to be performed by the offender and (ii) the custodial sentence the offender will be required to serve should they not complete the ordered hours. The aim of Community Service is to get offenders to pay back to the community in a positive way for the damage caused by offending. Every year thousands of unpaid hours of work are completed, benefiting many community and voluntary groups.
What is the Community Service Graffiti Project?
The Community Service Graffiti Removal Project is a Probation Service initiative which aims to combat the growing problem of graffiti through the use of offenders ordered by the Court to perform unpaid work as redress for their offending behaviour.
The project, initially piloted in the South Dublin Area, works in close co-operation with South Dublin County Council. The Project operates as follows:
• The Council litter warden advises the Council of sites damaged by graffiti.
• The Council notify the Probation Service Graffiti Removal Project.
• The Project travel to the affected site, remove the graffiti and clean the associated area based on an agreed work schedule.
The removal of the graffiti is performed by offenders on Community Service orders supervised on site by Probation Service Community Service Supervisors.
Has the initiative worked to date?
The Project has been an overwhelming success to date generating huge interest from councils and communities. The Probation Service are currently exploring the possibility of expanding the Project to other areas. There are a number of significant benefits:
• It is cost effective.
• The Project has the potential to offer significant savings for Communities and Councils using the service.
• The Project increases Probation Service capacity to complete Community Service Orders promptly and efficiently.
• The Project has a positive and visible benefit for communities.
• The Project engages the offender in a disciplined and structured routine similar to regular employment improving their readiness for employment.
• Both Community Service Supervisors and Offenders have provided positive feedback on the Project referring to it as innovative, stimulating, and giving a job perspective and a sense of active contribution.
• Communities have applauded the work of the Community Service Project team and appreciated the value of the work to their environment.
