UK - Public gets community service say :: Free Realms

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#1 Mar 29 2009 at 3:32 PM Rating: Good

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Now this is interesting ...

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Local communities in England and Wales are to be given the chance to decide what punishments offenders sentenced to community service orders should face.

Residents in more than 50 trial areas will be asked to choose online from five projects, with the most popular adopted by the Probation Service.

I have never yet seen any offenders visibly doing any good in the community. I know people are sentenced, I know community service occurs, but where does it happen and what benefits does it bring? I have no idea. I personally think it would be a fabulous idea to gain a say in what they do and see offenders working.

I know there is a similar programme in some US states, what do Asylumites feel about such correctional programmes, do they work? Or is it more about placating the public than the punished?
I'm worried that this is another gimmic that could backfire, except I'm intrigued if I will see an improvement in my local parks and public buildings ... a little less litter would be nice Smiley: nod

Edited, Mar 29th 2009 7:33pm by GwynapNud

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#2 Mar 29 2009 at 3:40 PM Rating: Good

trickybeck

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It is a gimmick, obviously. But it's not going to backfire because there's nothing TO backfire. It's trivial.

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#3 Mar 29 2009 at 3:45 PM Rating: Decent

Debalic

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Well when I had community service I spent a lot of time at the highway department, sweeping out the garage bays. Also worked on a non-chained gang cutting brush back from a road with hand-scythes, and mowing the lawn and trimming hedges at Town Hall.

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#4 Mar 29 2009 at 3:49 PM Rating: Excellent

Nobby

Ministry of Silly Cnuts

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It's a gimmick in as much as it's an announcement of what already happens Smiley: oyvey

My local War Memorial is no longer overgrown and delapidated.

Several of my elderly neighbours now have well-tended gardens.

My local Special-Needs school now has bus drivers to get the kids to school.

And all of the above achieved by people carrying out community service.

In addition, a few years ago, one of my staff was assigned to me under the same scheme. Having spent 20 years written off as a punk, he showed an interest in social care, and a real affinity for helping disabled people. 5 years on he's an qualified Social Worker and has high hopes for a future for himself and his wife.

My fear is that placing this in the hands of a popular vote (which isn't going to happen) would move us back from justice to revenge.

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#5 Mar 29 2009 at 4:01 PM Rating: Good

trickybeck

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Nobby wrote:

My fear is that placing this in the hands of a popular vote (which isn't going to happen) would move us back from justice to revenge.

Yeah, although the vote is between just 5 pre-selected chocies. So the decision is really still in the hands of the same people as it is now.

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#6 Mar 29 2009 at 4:06 PM Rating: Good

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trickybeck wrote:

It is a gimmick, obviously. But it's not going to backfire because there's nothing TO backfire. It's trivial.

ASBOs backfired, so could this kind of punishment .. it could become something to be proud of in certain circles, to be seen performing community service ...

Nobby wrote:

My fear is that placing this in the hands of a popular vote (which isn't going to happen) would move us back from justice to revenge.

Thats how I feel. Decisions made for the popular vote are often excellent for short term PR, awful for long term effectiveness and often counterproductive ..

"Back on the Chain Gang" keeps spinning in my head now Smiley: lol

Edited, Mar 29th 2009 8:08pm by GwynapNud

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#7 Mar 29 2009 at 4:11 PM Rating: Excellent

trickybeck

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GwynapNud the Eccentric wrote:

trickybeck wrote:

It is a gimmick, obviously. But it's not going to backfire because there's nothing TO backfire. It's trivial.

ASBOs backfired, so could this kind of punishment .. it could become something to be proud of in certain circles, to be seen performing community service ...

And voting from 5-choices of community service instead of just being assigned one is going to change the coolness factor of it? Christ what's wrong with you...

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#8 Mar 29 2009 at 9:47 PM Rating: Good

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No matter what the authorities are saying that this is for, one of the effects, and possibly the major effect it is intended to have, is to raise the awareness of "normal people" about what types of good and useful things are done by criminals to pay back the community when they are given community service sentences. ALL of the options listed to vote for will have a beautifying (and thus indirectly safety- and prosperity-raising) effect on those neighborhoods. They all involve hard work. I think pretty much anyone who participates in one of the online votes is going to come out having a warmer, fuzzier feeling about community service sentences.

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#9 Mar 30 2009 at 2:49 AM Rating: Good

RedPhoenixxx

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I think community service is great, and that restorative justice is even better.

As for the OP, meh. It's a gimmick at best. I can't say it's absolutely awful though, why not giving residents a say in what projects get help. As long as it doesn't become vindictive, as Nobby so eloquently said, that's fine by me.

Finally, not seeing or being aware of something doesn't mean it doesn't exist. It's true for the EU, it's true for community service.

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#10 Mar 30 2009 at 8:34 AM Rating: Good

__DEL__1592345456448

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They should do more community service punishments for drug charges, especially here in AZ, instead of automatic prison time and wasting taxpayer monies. Maybe make them work on the construction projects that take years to finish and that you never see anyone actually working on.

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