What is Community Service?
Community Service is a sentence imposed by the Court as a direct alternative to custody and is served by an offender in the community under the direction of the Probation Service.
A Community Service Order has two important parts outlined by the Judge in Court making the Order:
(i) the number of hours of unpaid work to be performed by the offender
(ii) the sentence of imprisonment or detention the offender will serve should they not complete the Community Service Order.
A Community Service Order can be made for at least 40 hours and not more than 240 unpaid hours in place of a specified sentence in custody. For a Community Service Order to be made the person must give their full consent in court to the making of the Order. The relevant legislation is the Criminal Justice (Community Service) Act 1983
What is the aim and purpose of Community Service?
As a Court ordered sanction Community Service aims to provide real benefits to communities through completing tasks that might not otherwise be done. It provides opportunities for participants to make reparation to the community for the wrong done in their offending . Community Service also provides a meaningful sanction and alternative to custody for Courts.
Providing Community Service work
• benefits the community;
• is aimed at not-for-profit, charitable organisations and bodies and community interests;
• is a real and substantial sanction available to Courts;
• and provides an opportunity for offenders to payback for their wrongdoing.
Community Service adds measurable value to communities and every year thousands of unpaid hours of work are completed benefiting many communities and voluntary groups.
• Community Service in action (Image Gallery)
• How Community Service works
• Nominate a Community Service
• More information on Community Service
• Testimonials (Community Service Testimonials) – COMING SOON
