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An Unpaid Work Requirement is one of the 12 requirements that can be included in a community order. It involves offenders doing compulsory work for the benefit of the community, as shown in the photo.
All offenders on Unpaid Work are screened to assess the risk they may pose to the public, and are closely supervised at all times. They will have to perform between 40 and 300 hours of unpaid work. The requirement is imposed as a punishment but it may have rehabilitative elements to it.
Unpaid Work Requirements are very rigorous sentences that are also beneficial to the community. They are also strictly supervised and incorporate other aspects like Skills for Life provision. So they provide a better opportunity for rehabilitation to the offender, and therefore help us protect the public in future.
Because a Unpaid Work involves lots of intensive supervision, it provides a unique opportunity to teach offenders new cognitive and practical skills. Unpaid Work supervisors are trained to act as positive role-models and to encourage the development of pro-social attitudes and behaviour towards work, other individuals and the wider community. It also gives offenders the chance to learn new skills in real situations – this style of practical learning suits offenders much better than more traditional teaching methods, and cultivates problem solving, interpersonal and employment-related skills. These skills are vital if the offender is to return to ‘normal’ society.
As with all Community Sentences, Unpaid Work is closely monitored, and offenders who do not obey the rules will be breached and returned to court.
To get an idea about the advantages of unpaid work for both offenders and the community, read the feedback from offenders and beneficiaries who have taken part.
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