What is a common form of alternative sentencing?

A guilty verdict in Arizona doesn’t always have to result in prison time; many judges look at alternative sentencing like community service. Instead of locking an individual away in prison, community service gives them the opportunity to develop life skills and give back to their neighborhood.

What counts as community service?

Typically, it’s up to the judge to decide what kind of community service you will perform. In some cases, they choose a form of service that’s related to the crime. However, the judge might also allow an individual to choose their form of community service. In that case, the service will have to be verified by a third party. If you don’t complete the required service, the judge might impose stricter regulations on your community service.

What happens if you don’t complete community service?

According to criminal law, not completing your service could be a serious offense. The judge might send you to prison or hold you in criminal contempt, which can result in harsh punishments even if you’ve hired an attorney. You might also be ordered to pay restitution to the people who were harmed as a result of the crime.

Who is eligible for community service?

Typically, judges will award community service to those convicted of non-violent charges who don’t have a long criminal record. However, no one is guaranteed to receive community service instead of jail time. You might want to talk to your attorney about bringing up the possibility to the judge.

How can you argue for community service?

Depending on your case, your attorney may be able to argue for community service in place of prison time or extensive fines. Your attorney may point out that you could benefit more from performing community service than you would be sitting in a jail cell. They might be able to sway the judge’s decision, but ultimately, you’ll have to accept the sentence that the judge hands out.