Costs shift to nonprofits, community organizations when community service is orderedThe researchers examined court-ordered community service programs in Georgia through interviews with both nonprofit managers and the individuals assigned to complete service hours. The findings suggest that court-ordered community service can be effective under the right conditions. In many instances, the offense that resulted in court-ordered community service wouldn’t result in incarceration anyway. “Court-ordered community service can potentially be transformative under very specific circumstances, but across the board that is not happening,” Nesbit said. Community service can work but requires thoughtfulnessWhen the court-ordered community service does work, it really works, the researchers found.