Community Service Restitution
What is Community Service Restitution?
Community Service Restitution (CSR), a program administered by the Volunteer Center of North Texas, places eligible court-mandated individuals in volunteer positions to fulfill community service hours assigned as a condition of probation.
This program benefits the community enormously because it provides:
· A vast, unending source of volunteers to nonprofit agencies always seeking help.
· An innovative alternative to individuals needing to satisfy court-ordered requirements.
Court-Ordered Volunteers
If you have been assigned by the courts to perform community service hours, contact the appropriate CSR office to make an appointment and receive further instructions. Court- ordered volunteers are required to pay an administrative fee at the time of their referral.
| Collin and Dallas Counties |
Tarrant County |
630 Texas Street
Dallas, TX 75204 |
3740 S. University Drive, Suite 101
Fort Worth, TX 76109 |
| map |
map |
| Phone: 214-821-8711, option 1 |
Phone: 817-927-7172 |
Volunteer Profile
CSR volunteers are referred to CSR by probation officers. These clients, as a requirement of probation, are instructed to fulfill several obligations to the courts, including paying fines, attending counseling and performing community service hours. Mandated volunteer assignments can range from 24 hours to several hundred hours, depending on the client's offense.
The Volunteer Center and the probation department work together to determine which offenders are eligible for the program, based on their offenses.
The Volunteer Center's policy does not accept those ever arrested and/or charged with the following offenses: sex offenses; harm or injury to a child or an elderly person; or aggravated offenses involving serious bodily injury.
Processing of CSR Volunteers
Clients referred to the Volunteer Center come for a personal interview, during which time, volunteer positions are identified to match the client’s interests, skills and availability, as well as, the criminal offense to an appropriate nonprofit organization. After the client’s match, the Center monitors progress and reports to the courts when the assigned hours are completed.
Referrals are made after a thorough screening process and require that CSR volunteers appear in person. Referrals cannot be made for CSR volunteers electronically - by email or the internet.
Truancy and Youth Community Service
The CSR program has expanded to serve the Municipal Courts and Truancy Court Diversionary Programs by placing adults and youths aged 14 years and above.
Truancy Orientation
Truants are required to attend a Community Service orientation (accompanied by parent or legal guardian). Orientations are held each week on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 pm and on the first Saturday of each month at 9:00 am (except holidays). No appointment is necessary, however, you will be required to pay a $35 fee (payable by money order only).
Criteria For Agency Membership
There is no cost to agencies that use CSR volunteers. The program is funded by court-ordered probationer fees, which are paid by the client at the time of intake. To become a member of the Community Service Restitution program, your agency must:
- Be a nonprofit, non-political organization or tax-supported entity that provides direct services in the community, educational or social services field. Organizations that exist primarily to raise funds are ineligible.
- Have documentation to show current IRS 501(c)3 status or tax-supported status.
- Complete a CSR application (you will get notification of enrollment from the Volunteer Center when all membership criteria are met).
- Document and report CSR volunteer hours monthly.
Examples of CSR Participating Agencies
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Goodwill Industries
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SPCA
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Irving Public Library
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MADD
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Salvation Army
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Friends of the Farm |
More about CSR
The Volunteer Center began the CSR program in 1981 as a partnership with the Dallas County Criminal Courts, State District Courts and Dallas County Community Supervision and Corrections Department.
Last year, CSR clients and truants worked over 600,000 hours at 600 nonprofit agencies - that translates to the equivalent of work performed by 350 full-time employees at a value to the community of more than $9 million!
CSR volunteers can accomplish many types of tasks, including:
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Clean-up/fix-up projects
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Computer support
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Animal care
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Desktop publishing |
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Clerical work
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Sorting food or clothes
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Painting/carpentry
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Gardening/landscaping |
CSR is a successful model that helps enforce mandated community service requirements, while improving lives and strengthening communities in North Texas.
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