Community service is a court order mandated by a judge that is usually in lieu of a jail sentence. This gives offenders an opportunity to help their community by providing needed services. Community service is performed for non-profit or governmental agencies without monetary compensation.

Benefits

Community service allows convicted offenders to “pay their debt” to their community rather than being incarcerated. Everyone benefits from this program since it:

• Supplies a work force for projects that benefit the community

• Allows work to be done that may not have been accomplished

• Frees up jail space and is more cost effective than incarceration

• Allows the offender to satisfy his or her obligations to the court and the community

Alternative Service

Alternative Service is a voluntary program that allows individuals to work for the community to satisfy fines and costs assessed by the Court. This is an alternative to making monetary payments. Participants will be given a credit of $85.00 per day for each eight-hour day that is completed. To participate in this program, the rules and regulations of the Community Service Program must be followed.

Types of Work

The Community/Alternative Service Program employs convicted offenders to benefit their community in an area of need. The work they do includes:

• Sweeping garbage off of streets

• Tidying up parks and landscapes

• Cleaning graffiti from walls and sidewalks

• Working with the Parks Department to hang banners and signage

Program Information and Rules

All participants are required to sign a release of claims indemnity agreement form prior to placement. This form releases the District Court, the City of Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Arkansas, and owners of work sites of any responsibility for personal injury or property damages to the participant in the Community/Alternative Service Program. Failure to abide by the assigned work schedule and the rules and regulations of the program will result in the issuance of a warrant for the offender’s arrest. At the time that the warrant is issued, any remaining community service that has not been performed will convert to jail time.

Work Site

• The Community/Alternative Service Program has work sites available seven days a week.

• The work hours vary for each site, but there are currently no evening or night shifts. The work site is assigned by the Community/Alternative Service Coordinator. Participants do not have the option to choose their work site.

• All participants are required to wear clothing that is appropriate for the assigned work site. For your safety, shorts and/or sandals are not allowed at any of the work sites.

• Participants are not allowed to leave the assigned area without permission from the site supervisor. Therefore, participants are required to bring their own lunch.

Transportation

• Participants are responsible for making the necessary transportation and childcare arrangements. Participants are also responsible for making arrangements with their employer if participation in the program conflicts with their employment schedule.

• Absences will not be excused for lack of transportation, childcare, or employment conflicts.

Contact Us

Inquiries regarding any services of the Community/Alternative Service Program may be directed to:
Court’s Community/Alternative Service Coordinator
Sebastian County Courts Complex, Suite 103
Phone: 479-784-2427