Main Phone: (775) 785-4242

The Sheriff’s Community Work Program is the least restrictive of all the Sheriff’s programs. This program requires sentenced defendants to perform a specific number of hours or days of community service. Random breath tests and drug tests may be performed, but supervision of offender’s personal life is minimal. If the participant fails to complete the community service, SCWP Deputies actively pursue offenders referring them back to the Court or arrest them for Failure to Comply. SCWP participants are typically low risk offenders with no violent felony charges, no current violent misdemeanor charges, no record of escape, and no open charges.

Before

 After

In 2008, on average the Sheriff’s Community Work Program had 1291 active participants in the program. A total of 22,142 days worked in the community at an estimated labor cost savings to governmental agencies equaling $1,859,928. Of those days worked 21,238 were jail days converted to SCWP time at a savings of $1,773,585 in jail housing costs.

Various types of community-support work are completed through this program. Tasks include cleaning animal cages, mucking horse stalls, painting schools, roadside litter clean up, janitorial work and general maintenance at numerous government buildings and grounds. Other projects have involved the Parks Department. These include laying sod, park litter maintenance, clean up and installation of playground equipment at Washoe County schools, building Reno’s downtown ice rink, general maintenance, landscaping and cleaning parks throughout both Reno and Sparks.

SCWP has proven to be very successful. Not only is a court order fulfilled, but at the same time, the community receives the benefit of the work done by the sentenced individuals. Participants are expected to comply with all rules set by the program, including following the work schedule completed by case managers. Participants are not allowed to call in on a scheduled workday for any reason. Reporting for work is mandatory.

The State of Nevada Parole and Probation, in conjunction with District Courts, has the option of utilizing this program as a condition of probation. It may also be used as an alternative to a probation violation for a minor rule infraction. By using the program, both options avoid the use of valuable jail bed space and also gain a significant public-work benefit.

VIEW: INSTRUCTIONS FOR REPORTING AND SIGNING UP FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE
VIEW: SCWP - COMMUNITY WORK PROGRAM APPLICATION (PDF)