FY 26 Proposed Operating Budget Book

JUDICIAL Community Work Service Cost Center 416000

ORIGIN & PURPOSE: The Community Work Service Program (CWS), instituted on July 1, 1985, is a form of alternative sentencing imposed upon offenders by the Courts of Harford County or the Juvenile Services Administration. At the discretion of the presiding Judge, nonviolent offenders are assigned to community work service in lieu of more traditional sanctions. By performing work service, the community and the offender benefit directly. These offenders are able to "pay back" the community for the crime committed against the County; and participating private, nonprofit institutions and/or agencies, benefit from the work service performed on their behalf. Beneficiaries of this program include Harford County Government (landfills, construction, and facilities maintenance), hospitals, churches, various volunteer fire departments and schools. AGENCY GOALS: To provide an opportunity for non-violent offenders to pay back to the community through the performance of community work service; To increase the number of government agencies and non-profit organizations that offer community work service opportunities for non-violent offenders by 10%.

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