What types of community service or restitution can juveniles be assigned to do?

In Virginia, juveniles charged with a crime may be assigned a range of community service or restitution tasks as part of a sentence. The type of assignment depends on the circumstances of the crime and the resources available to the juvenile. Generally, juvenile community service may include volunteering at a local nonprofit organization, participating in a mentoring program, or assisting with community cleanup projects. Restitution tasks may include projects that benefit the victim of the crime, such as a letter of apology, making financial payments, repairing damaged property, or performing a duty for the offended party. In some cases, a court may also order a juvenile to participate in a rehabilitation program, such as anger management or substance abuse counseling. These programs are designed to help the juvenile understand the negative impact of their actions, while providing them resources to develop the skills they need to make better decisions in the future. Beyond these assignments, a juvenile may also be required to perform additional duties as part of their sentence. This might include attending school and/or completing homework, curfews, and/or staying away from people or areas where criminal activities happen. Additionally, the court may require the juvenile to attend substance abuse classes, meet with a probation officer, and/or attend meetings with their parents or guardians. The goal of these activities is to help the juvenile successfully re-integrate into society and become a positive and productive member of the community.

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