ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING Program

Community Service & Classes grounded in the values of Equity, Empathy, and Excellence since 1978

About the Program

Alternative sentencing and monitoring provides an option to courts, probation departments, and judicial authorities to assign community service, community labor, or education classes instead of fines or incarceration.

We offer solutions to meet these court referred requirements plus opportunities to learn about important topics.

“United Way has been part of my success by providing the tools and resources to help individuals like me with compassion and understanding.”

— United Way Service Recipient

Current Offerings

Community Service/Labor

Ready to complete your court ordered community service or labor requirements?

We offer placements in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Out of county or out of state transfers are eligible to move their requirements to our program.

The following options require a court order to participate.

Option A: Community Service (Hours)

The option to complete Community Service hours includes placement at a local nonprofit, supporting the community while fulfilling court requirements.

Example community nonprofit placements include:

  • Food distribution (such as food banks or community gardens)

  • Nonprofit operational support (such as janitorial, clerical, administrative, or light duties)

Option B: COMMUNITY Labor AKA “HARD LABOR” (DAYS)

The option to complete Community Labor days, also known as Hard Labor, is an alternative to jail time by reducing sentence duration while improving the community. An 8-hour day of community labor is equivalent to 1-day of the sentence. Participants must be physically capable to perform manual labor.

Examples of community labor placements include:

  • Cleanup of community public areas such as freeways, parks, and beaches

  • Duties at animal shelters, warehouses, etc.

"No matter where you come from or what you’ve been through, there are opportunities out there. You just have to keep pushing forward. To anyone who feels like they’re stuck, don’t think it’s impossible. If I can do it, so can you."

— United Way Service Recipient

EDUCATION CLASSES

These courses are eligible to fulfill court order requirements:

PROGRAM ENROLLMENT

How to Sign Up:

To enroll in court referred options, you will need to have:

  • Photo ID

  • Court Referral, Probation Referral, or Transfer Paperwork (CLASP)

Enroll Online: Click here to open enrollment form

Call: 951-329-4709 - Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Visit: We are able to assist you in-person on Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at 1835 Chicago Avenue, Ste. B, Riverside, CA 92507.

Current Fees

As a community-based nonprofit, we set the lowest possible fee to keep services as accessible as possible. Fees support service operation costs and community programs.

Discounts are available for clients enrolled in multiple programs.

Scholarships may be available for clients with financial hardship (on a case by case basis and requires income verification).

All rates are subject to change.

Community ServiceMonitoring
New Client$100$100
Out of County Transfer$120$140
Out of State Transfer$140$180
Other Rates
Reinstatement (returning client)$75
Re-Assignments$40
Extensions$40
Anger Management Class$30
TEMPO (Youth under 19 years old)$185
HAMM (Adult over 20 years old)$200
Missed HAMM Sessions$80

frequently asked questions

Click to view answer:

  • No, we do not provide work release services. Contact the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. 

  • At this time, all classes are online. 

  • Please log in to the Alternative Sentencing Program portal and send a message to your case coordinator. 

  • No, we do not. 

  • You can only do one class per week. 

  • Yes, we can transfer you out. Please contact your case coordinator through the ASP portal. 

  • No, we are not able to assist cases that are out of county for monitoring classes because we do not have access to court systems from other counties. We can assist with community service, community labor, or hard labor, but you will need a transfer form from your county. 

  • Yes, you can. 

  • No, our enrollment process is online, but we will be happy to explain the enrollment process over the phone to ensure you are on track. 

  • If you need assistance navigating the enrollment technology, please come to our Riverside office on Wednesdays ONLY and we will assist you. 

  • The counseling agency will charge a $50 enrollment fee as well as a fee for each weekly class. Each agency determines their own fees (usually on a sliding scale) so you will need to ask the agency directly. 

  • Payments can be made online via a credit/debit/pre-paid card. Unfortunately, we cannot accept payments made by cash, check, or money order.

  • We do not provide the House Arrest program. You will have to contact Leaders in Community Alternatives (LCA) at 951-367-3601. 

  • We do not provide ankle monitors. You will have to contact Sentinel Offender Services (SOS) at 951-465-4065. 

  • For any DUI program (AB541/AB1353/SB38/SB1176) you will need to contact the Alcohol Education Program at 951-778-3500. The Indio office can be reached at 760-863-8471. 

  • You will have to submit your most recent doctors’ notes/surgery report. We will send a report to court notifying them that you cannot participate in the hard labor program. You will also have to put yourself on the calendar at court to get your hard labor modified to community service or any other alternative they may have. 

Contact Us

Call Us: 951-329-4709 - Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Walk-ins: Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

1835 Chicago Avenue
Suite B, Riverside, CA 92507

The office is open Monday-Friday, however Alternative Sentencing staff are only on-site for walk-ins on Wednesdays, so please do not drop by on other days for these services.