Benefits conveyed on me by the community service sentence
A community service sentence means that I will not be incarcerated, but I will
be required to be active and willing to submit to restrictions in my daily life.
It gives me a greater opportunity to atone for my actions without the negative
consequences of imprisonment.
My social ties are not severed and positive habits are not disrupted – I remain
with my family and friends and retain my job.
Thanks to the subsequent annulment of my conviction, which is executed in the
form of deletion of the “worked-off” crime from the criminal register, I have a
greater chance of being successful on the job market.
ALL SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CZECH PROBATION
AND MEDIATION SERVICES ARE
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Community service guidebook
for PMS clients
FREE OF CHARGE.
Our address:
Offender integration
Victim participation
Community protection
For more information about our services, please visit our website: www.pmscr.cz
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What is meant by community service
Alternative sentences that can be imposed by courts in the extent of 50-300 hours
(adults) and 50 -150 hours (youth) for certain offences, i.e., negligent crimes or intentional crimes for which the law imposes prison sentences of up to five years.
Courts decide on the imposition of community sanctions and measures either by way
of a verdict or penal order. Upon such decision, it issues a ruling by which it orders
the execution of community service and stipulates the type of work and where it is to
be performed.
Community service must be performed in person, for no remuneration, in one’s own
free time, no later than within two years of the day when the court ordered execution
of this sentence.
Community service sentences are carried out in favour of municipalities or government or other public interest institutions.
As soon as the sentence is served or the rest of the sentence pardoned with
final force, the offender on whom the sentence was imposed is deemed to have
not been convicted, i.e., the court annuls the conviction (deletes the record
from the criminal register).
My obligations related to the community service sentence
To lead a proper life and adhere to the proportionate restrictions or obligations
if imposed by the court.
If the ruling stipulates reparations, to pay them even, for example, in the form of
a payment schedule compiled in cooperation with the probation officer. The probation
officer contacts the victim in connection with the reparations and offers him or her
cooperation leading to reparation.
To work with the probation officer, i.e., to take part in preparing supporting documentation for the court, to report in a timely manner while serving the sentence any
changes (inability to work, change of residence, change of job, etc.) that would make
it impossible to carry out community service for a longer period of time.
What I should do after being notified of the ruling
Within 14 days of my receiving notification of the ruling by which the court decided on
the kind of sentence and the location where it is to be served, I should report to the
PMS centre in the jurisdiction of the district court in which the community service sentence is to be served. The terms and conditions of the community service will be discussed here and the probation officer will then specify a date and time when I should
report to the municipal office or institution (organisation) where the community service sentence is to be served. The date of commencement of the community service
and other related matters (drawing up of an agreement on execution of community
service, provision of information about safety at work) will be agreed at the organisation. I will take part in drawing up the community service schedule and adhere to it.
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I should carry out the work in the specified quality by the deadline stipulated at the
time of signing of the agreement with the organisation.
What I should do if I am temporarily unable to serve the community
service sentence (illness, serious personal reasons)
I should excuse myself either by telephone or in person at the respective organisation
where I am serving the community service sentence. I should then agree a date from
which I will be able to continue serving the community service sentence.
I should report to the probation office with a document certifying my inability to work
or some other document stating the reason for interruption of the sentence and provide an explanation.
What happens if I breach the terms and conditions of the
community service sentence
If I repeatedly fail to observe the work schedule and do not provide a serious reason
for doing so, if I do not carry out the work in the agreed quality, etc., the organisation
may rescind the community service agreement.
If I fail to duly serve the community service sentence and avoid the work, the court
may decide to change the portion of the community service sentence not served to
unconditional imprisonment or home detention, with each hour of the community service sentence not served equalling one day of unconditional imprisonment or home
detention.
Exceptionally, the court may confirm the validity of the community service sentence or
prolong the period in which it is to be served and decide to impose additional obligations, e.g., stipulate supervision or impose proportionate restrictions or obligations.
In duly substantiated cases, the court may decide to transfer the location of the community service sentence to a different organisation.
My rights related to serving the community service sentence
I may take active part in choosing the organisation for which I will serve the community
service sentence. The location, however, is always determined by the court based on
the probation officer’s proposal.
I may cooperate with the respective organisation on creating the time schedule for the
community service sentence.
In case of disputes at the stipulated workplace, I can turn to the probation officer and
work with him or her to resolve the situation.
I may request that the community service sentence be interrupted/deferred for the reason
of temporary deterioration of my state of health (supported by a medical report) or for other
reasons (e.g., serious family problems), for the period of time stipulated by law.
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