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Case 5 Community Service and Restitution Program The Program: The Community Service and Restitution Program is designed to hold juveniles accountable for their actions by putting offenders to work to earn restitution to pay their victims or to provide remedial punishment for their offenses. The community service component of the program is also used for diversion, as an alternative to appearance in court. Typical Case: Francisco, age 14, and another boy vandalized an elementary school by breaking windows and spray painting obscenities on the exterior brick walls. The school district reported expenses of $402 to replace the windows and remove the paint. It was Francisco s first offense. Francisco was petitioned to appear in juvenile court on a charge of injury to personal property, a misdemeanor. He was placed on formal probation pending completion of 48 hours in detention and payment of $201, his share of restitution. Through the restitution program, Francisco earned $4.25 per hour mowing lawns, washing ambulances, and painting walls at the police department. Upon completion of his obligations, his probation was terminated and a check for $201 was sent to the school district.
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