Community Work Service
Community Work Service (CWS) is work performed with a registered non-profit (501(c)(3)) organization as a service to the community. CWS is mandatory for those who have been ordered by the Court to complete community service, and voluntary for those who have been given the option to perform CWS instead of paying a Court-ordered fine.
Court-ordered Community Work Service
If you have been ordered by the Court to perform community service, it is your responsibility to complete the number of hours ordered by the Court and submit proof of completion to the Court by the due date to avoid penalties. You should therefore make arrangements to begin performing your hours as soon as possible. Information on finding a non-profit organization is provided below.
Community Work Service Instead of Paying Your Fine
If you have been ordered by the Court to pay a fine you may choose to perform CWS instead of paying the fine. You may combine both work hours and payment. Delinquent payments will be referred to a collection agency.
| Year | CWS Rate |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $26.00 |
| 2022 | $28.00 |
| 2023 |
$31.00 |
| 2024 | $32.00 |
Extensions
If you need a 30-day payment extension to make Community Work Service arrangements, or if you would like to reduce the monthly payment amount by extending your payment period, please contact the division of the Court responsible for your fine. The total fine cannot be reduced, but the monthly payment can be reduced by extending the payment period.
Community work service is a privilege and it is your responsibility to complete your hours timely and to ensure that evidence of completion is provided to the Court by your due date.
Finding a CWS Provider
CWS hours may be completed directly through any registered non-profit (501(c)(3)) organization of your choice. Find out if an organization is registered as a non-profit in California.
Documentation required from the non-profit agency must include:
- Hours must be documented on the organization’s letterhead
- Signature of the person in charge
- Total number of full hours completed
- Dates the hours were worked
- Contact information for the organization, including address and phone number
Policies and working conditions are established by individual providers and do not reflect the policies of the Court.