NCJ Number
105789
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 51 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1987) Pages: 4-10
Date Published
1987
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Several issues should be carefully reviewed prior to a decision to use community service (CS) as a sentencing alternative or enhancement.
Abstract
As with any other sanction, CS should support the overall philosophical orientation of the criminal justice system and its judicial and correctional philsophy. These should be incorporated into program goals, objectives, and orientation. In determining offender eligibility for participation, critical attention must be paid to the issue of dangerousness as assessed by offense, offender characteristics, and/or use of violence. Selection for CS should involve set criteria to avoid sentencing disparities and ensure community safety. While administration may be through a probation agency, volunteer bureau, or other entity, focus of organizational decisions should be on the policies and procedures for CS investigation and supervision. CS assignment decisions will require consideration of the benefits of matching offender skills or offense to the service versus random assignment. Supervision issues include confidentiality and disclosure of offender information, liability for offender behavior, offender disability or injury, and fees for probation services. Finally, evaluation should consider both measures of offender success or failure and cost-benefit to the criminal justice system and to the community.