Community Service and the New Portuguese Penal Code (From Community Service as an Alternative to the Prison Sentence, P 81-88, 1987 -- See NCJ-106907)

• NCJ Number: 106910
• Author(s): E Correia
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Description
• Language: English
• Country: West Germany (Former)

Annotation

This paper describes the parameters for and use of the community service order in Portugal as specified in the 1982 penal code.

Abstract

Community service may be an alternative for fines or imprisonment, but it may not be an alternative for prison sentences more than 3 months. Compliance with the community service order is monitored by the social services. The offender must voluntarily accept the community service order, and the work assigned must serve the community. The type of work assigned is generally reflective of the offender's vocational skills. The work can only be done outside of normal working hours and usually for 2 hours at a time. An order cannot be for more than 180 nor for less than 9 hours. The law does not specify the types of offenders who may be given a community service order. Community service is intended to facilitate the social reintegration of the offender and help reduce prison overcrowding. If the offender intentionally fails to complete the community service order, the sanction normally applied for contempt of court order is imposed.