Community Service Orders (CSO)
UPDATE
As of April 2023, the Community Service Orders program is, unfortunately, discontinued. Funding for this program, which was provided by the province through the Ministry of the Solicitor General, is now no longer available.
Supports adults (18+) that are sentenced by the courts to complete a set amount of community service hours as a condition of a probation order. They are supervised by a Probation Officer and are assigned a St. Leonard’s Justice Worker who connects individuals with community agencies in order for them to complete their hours.
We partner with a number of non-profit organizations to provide supervised volunteer placements for our clients to complete their community service hours. Examples: Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill Industries, Boys & Girls Club, St. Joe’s Soup Kitchen, etc.
Why am I ordered to do community service?
Community service is providing work at no cost in order to benefit the public or community. Some benefits of community service include:
- Giving back to the community in a constructive way
- Developing an increased sense of social responsibility
- Building relationships and fostering social connectedness with others
- Improves lifelong communication, interpersonal, and critical thinking skills
- Assists people in finding their interests and passions
How do I begin my community service order?
Contact a St. Leonard’s Justice Worker in the Adult Community Service Order Program to schedule the first intake appointment at 519-850-3777 x 222. This appointment takes approximately 30 to 60 minutes.
How long do I have to complete my community service hours?
The amount of hours and the length of time to complete the hours are determined by the courts. However, individuals have the choice to complete their hours as soon as possible. Upon completion of these hours the file is closed and returned back to probation.
CSO ParticipantMy experience was overall positive, productive, and rewarding.