INDIANAPOLIS — The Marion Superior Court Probation Department’s Community Service Work Program is dedicated to providing opportunities for probationers to repay the community through unpaid service for the damage (direct or indirect) caused by their offense. The Community Service Work Program offers two main components to ensure that all probationers are able to comply with their court order: work crews and service for approved non-for-profit agencies.
The Department of Public Works (DPW) administers the Probation Department’s work crews where probationers participate in community service work opportunities. The work crews assist in the maintenance of area parks throughout the City. They also collaborate with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful and the Cultural Trail on on-going projects. Furthermore, these work crews play an instrumental role in alley clean-ups and illegal dumping sites for the City. Approximately 2,500 hours of community service work are performed each month by the work crews.
Probationers also have the opportunity to work with approved non-for-profit organizations located throughout Indianapolis to complete their community service work hours. The Probation Department works closely with over 50 approved agencies, such as Gleaners, Second Helpings, Good News Ministries, Goodwill Industries, the Humane Society, and area churches. Over 3,500 hours of community service work are performed each month at the various approved agencies.
Last year (2015), Community Service work crews worked 32,571 hours, of which 15642 were in area parks. The total number of hours approved for nonprofits were 42,188, with 13,460 at Goodwill Industries, 2,259 at animal shelters, and 6,781 at area churches.