My experience involves criminal law for the state of: CA
After reading several of the questions here about community service, I thought I'd share my overall experience in hopes it might help someone understand what they may be up against.
In mid-March 2015 I plead guilty to a first offense, misdemeanor DV. In addition to fines and 52 weeks of Batterers Treatment Program classes (with an added alcohol/substance abuse component), I also received a sentence of 160 hours physical labor community service.
I was given my choice of Cal-Trans or OC Public Works. I chose OCPW CRP (Court Referral Program) and started at the end of March. Report time is 6 am and official end time is 330pm (although they often released us at 230 pm) with a credit of 9 hours per day.
This Saturday will be my last 7 hours (of 17.75 days at 9 hrs per day), finishing my obligation in October, just a few days in advance of my 6 month progress report with court and 5 months in advance of my complete-by date. I worked most weekends in the Spring, took the hottest summer months off, and then restarted this fall.
OCPW is in charge of maintaining the drainage channels in all of OC, CA. Work days have mostly consisted of clearing trees and brush along fence lines, clearing channels of trash, and stacking sand bags for flood control. A few times we have had to clean out homeless camps under bridges in channels. This was very dirty work with bags of feces, buckets of urine, drug needles, and trash. A couple times we were clearing old plastic fence at Peters Canyon and a few other times we were wading knee-deep in swamp mud and cutting down cattails. I even helped catch and relocate a rattlesnake from our work area in the swamp once.
A couple of the supervisors were ok and treated us like people, but a few others worked us hard like the criminals we are.
They save the bigger jobs for Saturdays and Sundays when more laborers show up. We often had a crew of 12-15 guys and a couple of ladies. They often went soft on the ladies and let them just clean the truck/bus or do very light duty work. The OCPW really relies on the CRP community service laborers. I don't know how they could afford to pay employees if they did not have this abundant free labor force.
Its interesting how new guys start off with a real hard attitude, but then by the end of the day, are more relaxed or just too tired to be hard. Some guys whine and complain the whole time or lazily milk the job.I feel I was respected by the supervisors, and eventually by fellow crew, because of my teamwork attitude and desire to just get the work done. I'd rather work than be bored. Makes the time go faster. I earned the nickname 'Rambo' and not many ever knew or used my real name.
Its been hard work and taken its toll on my body and mind, but its also helped me get in shape somewhat.
Its been a humbling and demeaning experience overall and caused me to miss quality weekend time with my wife, son, and friends.
I'll be glad to finish up this Saturday and complete another of my legal obligations and debt to society.

