Community Service Work
Frequently Asked Questions
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
Q. Where do I apply for Community Work Service?
| Lompoc |
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Santa Maria |
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Santa Barbara |
| 415 E. Cypress Street |
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2121 S. Centerpointe Parkway |
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117 E. Carrillo Street |
| Lompoc, Ca. 93436 |
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Santa Maria, Ca. 93455 |
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Santa Barbara, Ca. 93101 |
| |
| All three Probation offices are open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm. |
Q. Do I need an appointment to apply for community service work?
No. You do NOT need an appointment to apply for community service work.
Q. Can I come to the office and get an immediate work assignment?
No. Applications can not be processed while you wait, or immediately. Due to our volume and required procedures, you must receive your work assignment letter by mail.
Q. Do juveniles need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian?
Yes. Juveniles must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Q. What paperwork do I need to bring with me when I apply for Community Service Work?
You must report to the Probation Department with your paperwork from the court (referral docket or court order) or your referral from your probation officer. Without this official information, we can not process your application.
- Program application and waiver of liability
- Instruction/Information sheet, and
- Selection of your preferred work location from the binder or official worksites listing at the Probation offices
Q. What is the fee for Community Service Work?
The Community Service Work program enrollment fee is based on a fixed application fee of $25 for juveniles and $50 for adults, plus $2 per hour of community service work ordered.
Q. Is the Community Service Work fee waived?
Sometimes. The enrollment fee is waived when current verifiable proof of current enrollment in public assistance is presented at the time of application.
Q. Can I make installment payments on my Community Service Work fee?
Yes. An installment payment plan is available. The installment plan account setup fee is $20 of juveniles and $30 for adults.
Q. Can I get a refund?
No. Community Service Work Program fees are not refunded.
Q. Where can I find the current fee schedule?
WORKSITE QUESTIONSQ. What types of worksites are available?
The Probation Department currently offers worksites at local city and county parks, state beaches, and other public and non-profit agencies in the community. Phusical and manual labor is required at all worksites.
Q. Do I get to choose my worksite?
The CSW coordinator will attempt to assign you to one of your worksite choices based on the criteria of the worksites, and availability. The choice of the worksite assigned will ultimately be at the discretion of the CSW coordinator and may not be one of the worksites you selected. You are mailed a community service work assignment letter to the address on your application.
Q. How long does it take to get assigned to a worksite?
It can take up to two weeks for you to receive your work assignment letter. Do not wait until the last month to apply for CSW. Applications received less than four weeks prior to the completion date may not allow enough time for processing, mailing and scheduling work hours with the worksite.
Q. Can I go directly to a worksite and work before receiving the work assignment letter?
No. You must be assigned to a worksite before you can work there. Hours worked prior to enrollment in CSW and worksite assignment by CSW do not count towards CSW hours worked. Clients may not count work at worksites prior to CSW assignment.
Q. What happens if I do not contact my assigned worksite?
If you fail to contact your assigned worksite by the date on your work assignment letter, the worksite will return your timesheet to the CSW coordinator, freeing spaces at the worksite for other CSW clients. Worksites are limit the number of clients assigned, and worksite availability is limited. If you fail to contact your worksite, your space is needed by other CSW clients.
Q. How are my hours reported to probation or the court?
The worksite will return your timesheet to the Probation CSW coordinator. The Probation CSW coordinator will send a closing report directly to the Probation officer or the court.
Q. Can I get confirmation that my hours were completed?
Yes, ask your worksite to request a proof of completion. This is a box that can be checked on your timesheet. When your timesheet is returned by the worksite to the CSW coordinator with the proof of completion requested, you will receive a copy of your closing report at the mailing address on your CSW application.
Q. Can I change my worksite?
Yes. After you are assigned to a worksite, a worksite change fee of $25 for juveniles and $50 for adults is required when your assigned worksite is changed due to failure to maintain a work schedule, follow worksite rules and regulations, or upon client request. Worksite changes may not be accomodated if worksite is specified by court order, probation referral, or other worksite restrictions/conditions.
EXTENSION QUESTIONSQ. Can I work past my expiration date?
No. Your CSW hours must be completed prior to your expiration date. Credit is not given for hours completed after the expiration date.
Q. How do I get an extension to complete my hours?
- If you are unable to complete your ordered hours by the completion date, you will need to request an extension of time from the Court or Probation Officer.
- The CSW Coordinator is not authorized to grant extensions.
- Court ordered clients must report to the Probation Department and request a status report prior to appearing in court. The status report is required by the court. Payment of the extension feeis required when requesting the status report. The extension fee is $25 for junveniles and $50 for adults. Take the status report to the Court to request an extention.
- If your Probation Officer ordered you to complete community service work, you must discuss extension requests with your probation officer. If an extension is granted by your probation officer, the extension fees will apply.
Q. What if I need to do my hours in another county or state?
- To complete your ordered community service work hours in another county or state, you must first report to the probation department in the Santa Barbara area where you appeared in court with your paperwork from the court or probation officer. Juveniles must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. You must complete the application and waiver of liability and instruction sheet.
- You must pay a transfer fee to complete your hours in another county. The transfer fee is $25 for juveniles and $50 for adults.
- You must pay the full enrollment fee to comple your hours in another state.
Q. What if I want to do my hours in Santa Barbara, but the hours were ordered by another county?
- If you were ordered community service work hours in another county and would like to complete them in Santa Barbara County, you must first register with the community service work agency in the county that ordered you to complete CSW and have your case transferred to the Santa Barbara County probation office closest to your residence.
- When your case has been transferred, you will then report to the Santa Barbara County Probation office near your residence to enroll in the community service work program.
- You do not need an appointment to apply for community service work. You must bring a copy of your paperwork verifying you have registered with the community service work agency in the county that ordered the community service work and that you have had your case transferred to Santa Barbara County.
- Juveniles must be accomanied by a perent or guardian.
- You will complete the program application and waiver of liability, select a possible work work location, pay the applicable program fee, or provide current verifiable proof of public assistance to qualify for the fee waiver.
Q. What can I do to be successful at community service work?
- Complete and submit your application and other paperwork quickly (within 1 week) after csw is ordered by the court or your probation officer.
- Do NOT wait until near your deadline.
- Contact your worksite when you receive your worksite assignment letter and arrange your work schedule.
- Go to your worksite and work as assigned by your worksite supervisor.
- Follow the rules, directions and procedures of the worksite supervisor.
- Show up on time, dressed appropriately and have a pleasant attitude.
- Complete all your hours as soon as possible. Do NOT wait until near your deadline.
Q. What if my attorney has told me something different than the information on this website?
We recommend that you bring copies of all your paperwork from the attorney and the court to your area Probation CSW coordinator for clarification.