{"id":352251,"date":"2023-09-21T12:23:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-21T17:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/criminal\/criminal-procedure\/court-ordered-community-service.html"},"modified":"2025-04-17T12:22:00","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T17:22:00","slug":"court-ordered-community-service","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-procedure\/court-ordered-community-service.html","title":{"rendered":"Court Ordered Community Service"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Court Ordered Community Service<\/h1>\n
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\n By Sarah Williams, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Community service is often seen as a mutually beneficial criminal penalty. The person with a criminal conviction may avoid more serious penalties, and the public benefits from their service. But this alternative punishment also has strict requirements.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

A judge often has the authority to sentence a defendant to court-ordered community service. Community service programs help:<\/p>\r\n