The Juvenile Community Service Program was initiated in 1982
by Juvenile Court Judge Emanuel Cassimatis as a part of the Earn-It
Program. The Earn-It Program grew when funding was secured from the
Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to hire a full-time
Coordinator. It is now supported by the County of York and a part
of the York County Probation Department.
Approximately 300 nonprofit public service or government agencies
across York County utilize community service referrals. In cases where
a person from another state or county commits a crime in York County
and is ordered to perform community service, arrangements are made
for that defendant to fulfill the obligation in the county of residence.
The average community service order for juveniles involves the
performance of 35 hours of work. An order can vary from 15 hours to
200 hours. The greater amount of hours is typically ordered by the
court. District Justice referrals are usually 35 hours.
Court-ordered youth provide a much needed service to York County
communities. An example of the impact of the program is provided by
examining the hours performed in 1994. In 1994, 220 youth were assigned
community service hours. They performed 5,238 hours of community service
work at various worksites throughout the county.