NCJ Number
88088
Date Published
1982
Length
48 pages
Annotation
This report describes a demonstration project in which community service sentencing was used in the Southern District of New York. The project provided Federal offenders with the opportunity to work and perform volunteer community services instead of serving prison sentences.
Abstract
The project operated during 1980 and 1981 and accepted both cases which were alternatives to incarceration and those in which incarceration would not be appropriate. The district court sentenced 210 persons to community service during the project period. A total of 33 nonprofit agencies took part in the project. The group included hospitals, nursing homes, agencies serving the handicapped, senior citizen centers, governmental agencies, settlement houses, day care facilities, drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, and community centers. The offenders ranged from 19 to 70 years of age, with a median age of 38.8. Most were male and were employed full-time. Clients came from all income levels. Those with histories of drug or alcohol problems were no more prone to problem behavior during their service than were those without such backgrounds. Single clients had a slightly higher incidence of problem behavior than did married clients. Only one client was returned to court. Due to resource limitations, community service as a condition of probation should be used only as an alternative to short-term incarceration or in combination with short-term incarceration. All parties should view the community service sentence as a punishment. Additional recommendations, data tables, and attachments presenting a flow chart and related materials are included.