I am proud to inform you that the Long Beach City Prosecutor’s Office received top honors, with its Community Service Worker (CSW) program being named the “Best Neighborhood Program” in America.
The CSW program was started by City Prosecutor Tom Reeves in 2002 as an alternative sentencing option for those who pled guilty to misdemeanor charges. Instead of being ordered to pick up trash along the side of the freeway as part of a CalTrans work team, offenders could instead be sentenced to pick up trash at local parks and beaches.
The program has become much more. Today, about 80 percent of CSW workers are not sentenced to work— they volunteer for it as part of a pre-filing diversion program. First-time offenders cited for low-grade offenses who sign up and complete the required number of hours of service will never have their citation filed in court.
The other 20 percent of cases are referred from court (with City Prosecutor approval) and the person either can earn a dismissal or reduction in fine, or even avoid jail in some cases.
CSW workers help clean our parks, beaches and alleyways. They paint out graffiti, pull weeds and maintain community gardens, plant trees alongside neighborhood volunteers and remove debris from sensitive wetlands after heavy rains. All work is done under supervision.
In 2009, about 500 cases were handled through CSW, but in the last two years we have averaged 981 cases. In 2015, CSW workers completed an astonishing 31,349 hours of community service.
All cases are screened by the City Prosecutor’s office to make sure only non-violent offenders are diverted to CSW. Amazingly, 85 percent of CSW workers surveyed say the program is “great” or “pretty good.” Some CSW workers return and volunteer after their required hours are completed.
The CSW program saves taxpayers money by helping to maintain and beautify public spaces while reducing court congestion. It also shows how prosecutors can improve on the traditional criminal justice system by partnering with neighborhoods.
