Source: San Francisco, CA: The Center on Juvenile & Criminal Justice. Downloaded 21 February 2005.
Rarely considered in re-entry programs is the role of community service as a means of
reintegration. We argue for the creation of a “Civic Justice Corpsâ€?; a program for parolees to
return to the community in the spirit of service. A CJC would benefit both offenders and
communities by allowing for “earned redemptionâ€?—enabling offenders to repair the harm
caused by their crimes and regain community trust. Service may foster positive identity change
leading to reduced recidivism and civic commitment, while also providing an opportunity for
parolees to reestablish community social ties, leading to permanent housing and employment.
We make the case for a CJC as well as review the research on the correctional use of community
service. Authors’ abstract.
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