The community service program is located in room 2350 on the second floor of the District Court building at 200 Duke Street in Prince Frederick. This program accepts non-violent offenders ordered by the court to complete volunteer community service work. The program requires an interview for placement at one of the 75 work sites. Some of the available sites include: Project Echo homeless shelter, county government, highway maintenance, volunteer fire departments, Catholic Charities and special events (such as Patuxent River Appreciation Days), the Calvert County Fair, Celtic Festival, the Jefferson Patterson Park's War of 1812 Grand Tactical Re-enactment, and the Calvert Marine Museum's Summer Concert Series.

During the 2008 calendar year, 1056 clients participated in the program and performed over 21,202 hours of volunteer work. This amounted to over $186,065.00 in community service donated labor that was performed in Calvert County during 2008.

Individuals should be aware that there is a fee for the community service program. Payments may be deferred up to 30 days at intake with a signed payment agreement. The cost is as follows:

• One day of service is $25.00.
• Two to four days of service is $50.00.
• Five or more days of service is $100.00.

Fees can only be waived by the sentencing judge. The community service office does not accept cash. Checks, money order, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover are accepted for payment. Checks must be made payable to the Calvert County Treasurer.

If you are interested in being a community service worksite, please contact the community service office for prior approval. The following information is required in order to provide a safe and effective program:

• A copy of your agency's 501.C (non-profit status);
• Proof of liability insurance;
• A written request for workers signed by an officer of the organization, including a day time telephone number (for verification purposes) and the name of a specific contact person;
• A specific listing of duties to be performed and the hours during which the work will be performed;
• A statement of safety procedures and safety equipment, as necessary;

For more information regarding the community service program or to schedule an appointment for intake, please contact Deborah Nutwell at (410) 535-1600 ext. 2355.