Press Release  Community Service Conducts Statewide Earth Day Clean-Up

Boston, MA — The Massachusetts Trial Court Community Service Program will send crews of probationers to approximately 20 sites statewide where they will beautify and clean-up public spaces as part of Probation’s first Earth Day clean-up on Thursday, April 21st, 9 to 11 a.m. Probation will make this an annual event.

Included among the Earth Day projects are the weeding and clean-up of infields as well as painting and placement of bases for the Stoughton Little League; debris removal along the waterfront at Marina Bay in Quincy; landscaping at Horatio Harris Park in Roxbury; and clearing of brush along the Rail Trail in Salisbury.

Year-round, Probationers perform a total of 300,000 community service hours statewide in lieu of paying court fees. The Community Service Program is part of Probation’s Office of Community Corrections which includes 18 community corrections centers statewide. Offenders are transported from the centers or courts to the project sites where they perform a range of tasks-- both traditional and non-traditional. This work includes trash pick-up along streets and highways; set-up of classrooms for the school year by moving furniture and painting walls; building cages for oyster seeds at state fisheries; stocking and distributing food at local soup kitchens; and setting up 1,000’s of chairs and tables for community concerts and events. This work has also led to full-time employment for many offenders.

The work performed by Probation is an example of restorative justice which focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with the community at large, according to Probation Commissioner Edward J. Dolan.

“This work enhances communities and enables offenders to give back in a positive way,” Dolan said.

“Community service delivers valuable service to our neighboring and non-profit communities while fostering a sense of achievement for our participants,” said Community Service Statewide Supervisor David Skocik.

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