Articles Posted in Community Service in MS

So what types of community service might you be ordered to carry out in Mississippi? In 2017, it was reported that offenders were carrying out a wide range of tasks as they completed their community service obligations. These included cleaning up the downtown Jackson area, setting up computer labs for a school district in Harrison County, cleaning up after a basketball tournament, washing cars, working at a local dog pound, cleaning up parks, and many other tasks. You’ll notice that the vast majority of these jobs include cleaning up the community, but there are exceptions. 

The first thing you need to know about community service is that it is rarely an option for very serious crimes. It may be a stand-alone sentence, or it might be a condition of probation. In addition, community service may be a required punishment for some crimes, such as property damage. In addition, community service is always intended to benefit the community in some way. 

Your community service may be closely related to the crime you committed. For example, a DUI offender might be required to help with various programs that help prevent more DUIs from being committed in the future. Someone who sprays graffiti on walls might be required to clean up acts of vandalism around town. A drug offender might be ordered to assist with substance abuse programs, helping other people get clean.

You will never be required to carry out community service that you are not physically capable of doing. For example, you will not be ordered to lift heavy objects if you are an older person or you are dealing with medical conditions. 

For many offenders in Mississippi, community service is a welcome alternative to prison. Judges may order convicted criminals to complete a certain amount of community service instead of giving them a prison sentence. Judges may also give offenders reduced sentences that include community service as a condition of their early release. Whatever the case may be, most individuals breathe a sigh of relief at the thought of doing community service. But as that initial relief begins to fade, you might start to ask yourself what your community service will actually involve.

A qualified, experienced criminal defense attorney in Mississippi can explain the details of your community service in a clear, concise manner. Not only that, but working with one of these legal professionals also increases your chances of getting community service instead of prison time.