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In Corvallis, Minor Offenders Turned Towards Community Service

Dean Hochman
/
Flickr.com

Corvallis’ community service court is nearing its third month.  As KLCC’s Brian Bull reports, the city’s municipal judge is pleased with it so far.

Chris Dunfield says they’ve used drug court as a model in working with low-level offenders who are poor and don’t warrant jail time. 

Since launching on September 16th, Dunfield says the community service court has helped about two dozen people set goals, work with local charities, and achieve a sense of ownership over their volunteer work.  He says it’s a constructive and sensible approach.

“Doesn’t do any good to order somebody to pay a fine if they literally cannot pay it. Doesn’t make any sense to hold such an individual in contempt of court.  They’re not in contempt of court.  They’re not willfully violating a court order," says Dunfield.  

"But community service is something that people who don’t have a lot of financial resources can perform, benefits the community, and benefits the individual too.” 

A typical sentence is 10 to 20 hours, which can be done at humane societies or homeless shelters for example.  Check-ins are required with the court, which Dunfield tries to keep informal.  

Brian Bull is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Oregon, and remains a contributor to the KLCC news department. He began working with KLCC in June 2016.   In his 27+ years as a public media journalist, he's worked at NPR, Twin Cities Public Television, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including four national Edward R. Murrow Awards (22 regional),  the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award, Best Radio Reporter from  the Native American Journalists Association, and the PRNDI/NEFE Award for Excellence in Consumer Finance Reporting.
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