The purpose of community service is for the offender to provide time and service that will benefit the community affected by his or her crime. Judges frequently order offenders to complete a set amount of community service hours in addition to other forms of punishment, such as incarceration, fines, and/or probation. Below are RDAPDan's tips for choosing community service that matters most to your Judge.

1.Timing in Key. Take Responsibility for Your Community Service Hours and Start As Soon As Possible

It is not the job of your Judge, lawyer, parents, spouse or probation officer to find a community service location for you. It is your job to search out and find all that you need to do to satisfy the courts. The sooner you start completing the hours, the better off you will be when in front of the Judge. If you do not have access to the internet, go to the library, they have computers available to use for free. Look up community service jobs in your area or use one of the links provided at the bottom of the page. Start calling community service locations to find the right place for you. The sooner this is done, the better. The Judge wants to see that you are remorseful and giving back to the community. Completing your community service hours immediately and with diligence will be a positive action you made for the Judge to see.

2. Do Community Service that has a Connection to the Crime

While many non-profits need service, volunteering for an organization that has a connection to your crime is the wisest way to go. Select a location to complete your community service hours that serves a cause with a direct connection between that service and the crime. For example, if you are facing drug chargers, try to serve hours at a drug-abuse treatment facility. If you committed tax-fraud, volunteer for an organization that provides tax services for lower-income families.

3. Do not do all your community service at a single location

There will not be community service hours available every week at every location and not completing your hours is not an option. It is very important to have multiple organizations available for you to complete your service. We recommend at least two. If you do not have multiple community service options, you may fail in completing your time. You do not want to find yourself before the Judge without completing enough hours, or worse, having not even started.

4. The Organization you are Providing Community Service to Must Actually be Serving the Community

Be sure the location(s) where your community service is completed are non-profit organizations that benefit the community. The last thing you want to do is waste time doing community service for an organization that isn’t approved by the courts. Use one of these search links to find your ideal community service location AllForGood.org, Idealsit.org,1-800volunteer.org,Volunteersolutions.org and make sure the work you are providing will be of service to  the community. You are paying restitution for your crime, not helping a business make money Keep that in mind.  Where the community service is completed makes a difference to the Judge.