look no further than the team at Cole Paschal Law.
Texas law makes community service a possible penalty for avariety of misdemeanors. When you have been convicted of a crime such as DWI,being a minor in possession of alcohol, or one of the relatively minordrug-related offenses, you may be assigned a certain number of hours incommunity service that must be completed.
If you are charged with a first offense of possessing less than2 ounces of marijuana, you can likely work out a deal or even get your casedismissed with the help of a good drug crime lawyer. This is in exchange foragreeing to drug treatment programs or some community service.
Why This Penalty Exists
Some individuals have a difficult time understanding whyvolunteer work would be assigned to anyone as a punishment. They feel it shouldbe something people choose to do for their own gratification. Some even worrythat doing these jobs as punishment will give them negative associations inpeople's minds.
The rationale behind these laws is that a person who hasviolated the law should pay restitution to the larger community. Crime affectseveryone, not just its immediate victims. Serving the community can be a wayfor people to make up for what they have done.
Who Gets This Penalty?
Sometimes a person is assigned to volunteer work after beingconvicted of a crime. In these cases, other penalties, such as fines and aprobationary period, are often included. This conviction becomes part of theperson's criminal record and can only be removed in particular circumstances;for example, when a minor becomes an adult, his or her legal record may besealed.
People may also receive this punishment as part of deferredadjudication. This is different from a conviction in that the defendant is notfound legally guilty of anything. Instead, a drug crime lawyer arranges a pleabargain with the court in which the offender remains on good behavior for acertain period and usually completes specific tasks for the community.
Where Can I Serve?
A few types of crimes require convicted people to help theircommunity in specific ways, for example, a minor convicted of driving whileimpaired may need to support a program designed to reduce alcohol abuse amongyouths.
Most of the time, however, people are allowed to choose theprogram to help. Popular choices include animal shelters and park clean-upsbecause they always need workers, and the hours are flexible. Any type of workwhich will help others is generally accepted.
About Cole Paschall Law
The law office of Cole Paschall Law offers comprehensiveconsultations so that you have a chance at avoiding severe penalties for yoursuspected crimes or at least get away with lighter punishment like communityservice. Contact the law office of Cole Paschall Law, the best drug crime lawyer in Fort Worth, TX at (817)-477-4100, to start building a strong andimpactful defense against your criminal charges.
