COMMUNITY SERVICE
Twelve hours of community service are required for the successful completion of the program. All twelve hours will be done in Athens County. Eight will be completed on a Saturday that is assigned. That assignment is contained in the Diversion Contract that is part of the paperwork you received at arraignment. The current date is July 31, 2010. You will report to the Athens County City Building (Municipal Court) at 8 East Washington Street in Athens at 7:45 a.m. This is a hard start time. If you arrive late, you will be sent home, regardless of how far away that may be. You will be dressed to work outside and prepared to get dirty. Proper dress does not include sandals or flip-flops. Improper dress may get you sent home.
The assigned workday is a mandatory court date. You must be here. You will be charged a $50 fee for missing that date. Do not call the court before your date asking to change or reschedule. Two missed workdays will generate a show cause hearing to the judge. If you feel you have a legitimate, compelling reason not to be here, rescheduling may be possible. Reasons not considered to be legitimate are: distance, previously scheduled events such as weddings and birthdays, inability to get a ride, gas prices.
Do not appear for community service smelling of alcohol. Doing so will result in immediate dismissal from the program and leave you open to the possibility of a second underage consumption charge.
Do not bring an IPod with you; you will have little opportunity to use it. You will be told to turn off your cell phone while working. Your insistence upon using either of these devices may result in having it taken from you for the day.
Eat breakfast at home. Do not bring food or drink with you in the morning.
If you have driven to Athens, please park your car in the City Parking Garage directly across the street from the City Building. Use Level 4 or higher. Do not feed the meter; you will be given a community service hangtag which will prevent your car being ticketed.
The other four hours of community service are to be scheduled and completed at one of the non-profit or not for profit organizations on the list provided with your timesheet. Your timesheet must be properly filled out and your supervisor's signature must be legible. Any deviation from this list must be pre-approved by the Diversion Officer. Occasionally, opportunities to do that four hours with a group will be offered. Check with Mrs. Norwood or this site for those opportunities.
All twelve hours will be done in Athens County. There are no exceptions to this rule. If you can come to Athens to drink, you can come to Athens to work.