Community service is a work in which a judge orders an offender to act as a form of punishment that benefits the community. Typically, Judges will order community service as an alternative to other forms of punishment, like incarceration, or in addition to them. Based on the United States code, community service must be purposeful, reliable, realistic, appropriate, and designed to benefit the community. The offenders cannot get compensation for community service. Community service has to be completed as promptly as possible without compromising the ability of the offenders to maintain employment and meet family responsibilities.
Typically, community service is not ordered for heavy or serious crimes. While community service can be a suit alternative to incarceration for an offender charged with shoplifting, but it would not be suitable for an offender who has committed sexual assault, robbery, or kidnapping. We get information that in the 1960s, community service began to be utilized as an alternative to jail time, in response to the issue of prison overpopulation. Since then, the practice of ordering community service has evolved and is frequently used as a component of sentencing which includes monetary sanctions and probation terms.
Does a Community Service Officer Carry a Gun?
Need to know that a community services officer is typically not a sworn officer. Also, community services officers have fewer responsibilities and qualifications to meet. In this role, community services officers are typically not allowed to carry a gun or firearms on the job, although they may carry non-lethal weapons, such as Tasers.
Actually, it is one of the differences between a community services officer and a Police Officer. Other significant differences between community services officers and police officers are the types of uniforms they wear and also the vehicles they drive. These differences are able to help the public to distinguish a community services officer from a police officer. In several jurisdictions, police officers have to be 21 years old. If starting your career as a community services officer, you are able to gain experience in law enforcement before you are old enough to be a sworn officer.
How to Become a Community Services Officer?
A community service officer career can be a great way to get started in the criminal justice field. As a community service officer, you are going to have the chance to learn about different aspects of law enforcement and work with a variety of people. Also, you are going to gain experience working with the public and helping people.
To become a community services officer, you must have a high school diploma. Also, you have to attend a special training program. Usually, community services officer academy training includes courses in criminal law, community engagement tactics, investigation strategies, first-aid and CPR training, and departmental regulations. Aside from that, you also get practical training in the field with more experienced CSOs. In addition to the successful completion of your academy training, you have to pass written exams, a polygraph test and a background check.
What Does a Community Services Officer Do?
A community services officer provides support to law enforcement departments. As a community services officer, it is your job to supplement police efforts, mainly when the situation does not need a police officer, such as doling out municipal parking tickets or traffic direction. Your duties include crime prevention, crime scene investigation, community engagement and outreach, and security at special events and schools. Also, you are responsible for several clerical tasks at a police department, including filling out reports for crimes like missing persons, burglary, and property vandalism, dispatching calls as required, and liaising with other public safety departments, such as animal control services.
Where Do Community Services Officers Work?
Community services officers work in the office and out on the streets. Usually, in the first year of your job, Community services officers work in an office setting, filling out paperwork, retrieving records, and giving administrative support to police. When you get more experience and skills, then Community services officers are able to move into other jobs, such as investigating smaller crimes, providing event or airport security, responding to minor traffic accidents, working the parking ticket circuit, and directing traffic during a crash or when there are road closures.
Community Service Officer Trends
There are three trends influencing how community service officers work. As the Community service officers, they need to stay up-to-date on these developments to keep their own skills relevant and maintain a competitive advantage in the workplace.
- Community Policing Will Become More Crucial
Because community policing becomes more crucial, community service officers have to adapt their roles to meet the needs of their communities. Community service officers are in a unique position to assist build trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. By working with the members of the community to resolve problems and address concerns, they are able to assist create a safer environment for everyone.
- More Collaboration Between the Law Enforcement and Community Members
Law enforcement agencies realize that they cannot protect their communities effectively without the help of the people who live there. This leads to an increased focus on collaboration between the law enforcement and community members. Community service officers are able to play a key role in this trend by developing relationships with community members and assisting to bridge the gap between the law enforcement and the public. Also, Community service officers are able to work to create programs which encourage communication between these groups.
- More Focus on Preventing Crime
Because crime rates continue to rise, then police departments are shifting their focus towards preventing crime before it occurs. It means that community service officers need to develop skills in areas such as conflict resolution and mediation. To be successful in this new environment, community service officers must be able to connect with the residents and understand what makes them tick. Also, they must be able to communicate effectively with other members of the police department and can follow through on projects which will help prevent crime.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
