Community Service Program

MISSION

The mission of the El Paso Municipal Court Community Service Program is to provide meaningful community service projects as alternative sentencing for Class C misdemeanor convictions, to serve as a deterrent to recidivism and to promote responsible civic behavior from participants in the program.

OUR GOALS

1. Refer Class C offenders to assignments at host agencies where their labor hours will benefit the community and help the offenders reconnect with the community.
2. Recruit and maintain a wide variety of governmental and non-profit host agencies geographically distributed across the city.
3. Assign offenders to host agencies close to their home or work so as to encourage successful completion of assignments.
4. Ensure community service work sites are safe for offenders and conducive for performing community service.
5. Provide comprehensive educational classes, workshops and life skills classes; including alcohol, tobacco awareness and drug prevention classes.
6. Ensure compliance with judicial orders for community service by monitoring cases.
7. Treat all offenders fairly and with dignity.

COMMUNITY SERVICE PROCEDURES

1. At the time of conviction and sentencing, the client requests community service from the El Paso Municipal Court Judge.
2. If the judge approves the community service assignment, the client obtains the order from the judge. Please note: Adult community service at City departments is contingent upon being found indigent by the judge.
3. Client calls the community service office (915) 546-2940 to speak to the sentencing coordinator or a representative.



Client must contact the community service office in order for the procedures of the program to be explained and to receive a referral to the agency where they will perform community service and a timesheet where clients will record community service hours served.

4. The sentencing coordinator or representative will refer clients to a work site supervisor, who will set up a work schedule, discuss hours of operation, reporting location and dress code requirements.
   

   A volunteer agreement including release and indemnification form is signed by client before serving his/her community service hours and turned into the community service office. Students may not work after 7:00 pm during the week (Mon-Fri).

5. Clients will report to assigned work site supervisor. Supervisor will verify client identification and community service referral form.
6. Clients may work either full days or a minimum of four-hour shifts, depending on the availability of the client and/or requirements of the work site.
7. Clients will report at the end of the day or shift to the Supervisor to verify and sign timesheet.
8. Clients must submit their timesheet to the community service office on or before the due date.

EL PASO MUNICIPAL COURT COMMUNITY SERVICE
DRESS CODE

The Community Service program enforces a strict dress code designed for the safety of the clients. Those who do not comply will be sent home when they report for service. The client must wear appropriate clothing and be well groomed when reporting to the work site.

1. Comfortable shoes are required and must cover the entire foot. The following are not allowed: high heels, slippers, sandals or shoes of any kind without backs.
2. Tank tops, muscle shirts, shirts with obscene or derogatory pictures or phrases are NOT allowed. Shirts/blouses must cover torso entirely. No exposed midriffs allowed.
3. Shorts, cut-offs, sweat pants, low-cut jeans, halter-tops, crop tops, skirts or dresses are NOT allowed. Jean-type or khaki pants worn with a belt are preferred.
4. No gang related items or gang colors allowed.
5. Hats are recommended for protection from the sun. Caps are to be worn properly and may not have obscene or derogatory pictures or phrases.
6. Sunglasses and sunscreen are recommended strongly.

ABOUT THE MUNICIPAL COURT COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM

The City of El Paso, other governmental agencies and non-profit community agencies participate in the Municipal Court Community Service Program to provide meaningful work to individuals who have been assigned community service hours by a municipal court judge. In turn, the hours served provide a labor source to these agencies which benefits the community.

In addition, The El Paso Police Department and MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers), provide presentations to juveniles on issues such as: “Underage drinking and consequences,” “Traffic Safety,” and other issues. Presentations are held every two months and the hours spent attending these presentations/classes will count towards community service hours ordered. Teen Court provides education about the juvenile justice system, including community service and life skills classes.