3 Things To Know About Community Service And Criminal Charges
If you were charged with a minor crime and were convicted of it, the court may order you to do community service. Community service is something that is used often as a punishment in criminal cases, and it is designed to serve several purposes. Here are three things to know about community service as a punishment for a crime.
What is community service?
Community service is a term that refers to helping out with community-related tasks for free. This is something a person can do of their own free will, or organizations might decide to offer services to the community for free. In addition, courts will often require this as part of a punishment. Community service can involve helping out with
- City park systems – You can go to a park or public place and clean up trash, plant flowers, and complete other tasks.
- Animal shelters – You might also be able to go to an animal shelter to serve your time. This can involve feeding and caring for pets, or taking the animals for walks.
- Food shelters – If your city has a food shelter, you could go there and serve meals to homeless people.
These are just a few options, but you can find out more options by talking to your criminal defense lawyer.
Why do courts use this as a punishment?
Using community service as a punishment is something courts do for a variety of reasons, including
- It serves an important role in a community. Having criminals complete community duties can help a community stay cleaner, and it offers a way for volunteer work to get completed.
- It helps criminals see things from a different view. Volunteering is a great way to take your mind off yourself and place it on others.
- It holds the person accountable. If you are required to complete community service, you will be held accountable to do this. If you fail, you may face harsher punishments for your crime.
This type of service is not typically used for major crimes, but it can be used for most minor offenses.
Are there rules to do this for a crime?
If you are required to complete community service, you will need to make sure you choose an organization that is authorized with the court for this. You may have to get the task approved through your lawyer before you go through with it. The second thing you must do is complete the required number of hours needed. The organization you complete the tasks for must sign your paperwork to verify that you did indeed complete the hours the court required of you.
If you are facing a criminal charge or have questions about community service, contact a criminal defense lawyer like Kalasnik Law Office.
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