Ch. 63                                      1995 LAWS OF MARYLAND

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

726A.                                                                     

(a)     Each county and Baltimore City may establish a community service program.

(b)     Except as otherwise provided, a court may assign or order a juvenile who is
charged with the commission of a delinquent act, or a criminal defendant who has not
been convicted of a crime of violence, to perform community service:

(1)     As a condition of probation, whether granted under § 641 or § 641A of
this article or otherwise;

(2)     As a condition to a suspended sentence;

(3)     In lieu of payment of any fines and court costs imposed; or

(4)     As a condition of:

(i) A case being placed on a stet docket; or

(ii) A juvenile being subject to a diversionary program.

(c)     (1) In this subsection, the term "crime of violence" has the same meaning
stated in § 643B of this article.

(2) Criminal defendants or juveniles may be assigned to work projects under
the community service program only if:                                                                 

(i) Assignment to a work project is made with the consent of the
juvenile or defendant;

(ii) The juvenile or defendant is not compensated for the work
performed; and

(iii) The defendant has not been convicted of a crime of violence.

(d)     (1) Private charitable, nonprofit institutions or public and community
service associations and agencies of government may provide work projects for the
community service program. A participating local agency shall provide relevant
information on a form containing the following information:

(i) A description of the work project;

(ii) The days of the week and the hours of each day each project is to

be performed;

(iii) Special skills or physical requirements to perform the work project;

(iv) If the project is of limited duration, the date when the availability
of the project expires; and

(v) Other information useful for assigning a juvenile or defendant to
an appropriate work project.

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