What are the positives of mandatory community service ?

Question

What are the positives of mandatory community service ?

Answer 1

In theory, giving back to the community in this way provides a means of restitution; it works best when somehow the community service relates to the incident for which it is a judicial requirement.  

Cleaning up a roadway as restitution for littering, or working for a non-profit organization dealing with alcohol and drug abuse cases for a drug/alcohol-related offense are examples of this "punishment fitting the crime" idea.  Many judges are trying have gotten creative in sentencing to try and get the attention and make an impact on the offender in this way.

Just paying a fine may not put enough of a dent in a person's lifestyle--this community service requirement may force him/her to accept the reality of the situation that led up to it.

The other positives are the good that it does for the community.  Ideally, the service requirements include tasks that truly need to be done and will benefit the community--jobs that no one might otherwise volunteer for, or jobs that would otherwise cost the taxpayers money to hire done.  In this way, the community is compensated for the trouble and expense of the trial and/or the offense that led up to it.

As someone who does volunteer work that is not court-mandated, I can also tell you that if you have the right attitude about it, you can get a good feeling (or as a spiritual person, what I call a "blessing") out of doing good for others.  This could be just the esteem boost a person might need to pick them up out of whatever wrong path he/she has been on that may have been a contributing factor to the incident.  Sometimes just that reality check that the rules apply to everyone can be what a person needs to get his/her head clear and get back on track with life.

I think another positive could be the deterrent factor for others witnessing the community service.  I know I have used seeing the crews on the side of the road as a teachable moment with my kids to show them just one more reason why they don't want to end up on the wrong side of the law.