How to Sign Up for Community Service After a DUI

Community service as partial retribution for committing a crime has long been used in most states in the U.S. since the early part of the 20th century. In the case of a DUI, performing a certain number of hours of community service may sometimes substitute for jail time, depending on the court's decision. Here's information about signing up for community service.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Ask your lawyer if there is any leeway in your sentence that would allow community service instead of jail time or a high fine.

2. Survey the list of community service organizations that the court provides. Note how to sign up for community service with each particular organization--sometimes it must be in person, and sometimes you can enroll by phone or online.

3. Lobby for a particular community service if you feel strongly about it. Sometimes, when the list of community service organizations is varied, lenient judges will allow you to do service with a group you feel compatible with. Usually this is only possible for first-time DUI convictions.

4. Get your hours properly recorded, as you will have to prove to the court that you completed the service.

Tips & Warnings

• In DUI cases community service is often aimed at benefiting victims' rights groups, specifically anti-drunk-driving advocacy groups.
• View your community service as a hopeful step. You are helping an organization, as well as benefiting society overall.
• A DUI conviction carries a social stigma in a society conscious of the damage drunk driving does. Be sensitive to the feelings of those at the organization at which you perform community service, especially if their mission deals directly with drunk driving prevention.

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