A community work order is special form of probation wherby the court sentences an individual to perform a specific number of hours of unpaid work in the service of the community instead of serving a sentence in custodial care (prison).
This alternative to a prison sentence has been specifically designed for young offenders i.e. under 25 years of age who would otherwise have been sentenced to prison terms of 12 months or less. A minimum of 40 hours and a maximum of 200 hours unpaid community service can be exacted under the current legislation for community work orders. Every community work order has an alternative period of custodial care specified in the court sentence. In order to eligible for a community work order the accused must agree to the terms of the order and be deemed siutable by the courts. Persons with alchohol or drug problems and persons unable to function socially in a work environment are automatically excluded by the courts. Persons with drug and/or alchohol problems can however be sentenced to treatment. Repeated misconduct can result in the alternative period of incarceration being invoked i.e. imprisonment. Home