NCJ Number
124914
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 54 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1990) Pages: 3-9
Date Published
1990
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Community service work orders are penal sanctions which require offenders to complete a specified number of hours of unpaid work in government or nonprofit agencies.
Abstract
This paper describes a program model based on detailed studies of 14 American community service programs. The sole sanction community service programs provide a clear indication of the level of resources needed for the community service activities. The community service programs rely on other community agencies to provide work sites where the offenders can complete their work obligations. These programs require a set of intake activities and a series of other activities related specifically to the community service function, such as developing of community service sites; determining the community service requirement; placement activities; monitoring and supervision activities; and termination and reporting. The intake activities of these programs vary between those which focus exclusively on community service and those which require other sanctions or treatment in conjunction with the community service. The authors conclude that there are a number of program development and research needs for community service programs including clarifying the penal purpose to be accomplished by the use of community service work orders and undertaking cost studies which account for indirect costs, displacement of fine income, and costs to community agencies of providing supervision as well as direct program costs. Another need is to clearly specify and define the actual offender population served by these programs and relate this information to program purpose. A final need is for information about the reactions of offenders and other citizens to the community service sanction. 1 note, 1 figure.