We have prepared and published an analytical review of community service practices in Ukraine. The study is based on official responses from regional offices of the Probation Center and an analysis of actual practices in various regions of the country.
Community service is a form of administrative or criminal punishment that involves performing unpaid, socially beneficial work done in one’s free time from their main job or studies. Its purpose is not only to punish but also resocialize the individuals and their integration into community life.
Key findings of the study:
- The most common types of work include landscaping, cleaning, repair work, and assisting municipal services, educational institutions, and social welfare facilities.
- Amid the war, the nature of some community service has changed: in some communities, people are being enlisted to assist with humanitarian efforts, infrastructure maintenance, and the cleanup of shelling damage.
- There are regional differences in how the process is organized — both in the list of tasks and in approaches to monitoring and tracking progress.
- Challenges include security restrictions, staffing pressures on probation services, the complexity of monitoring, and inconsistencies in practices across communities.
At the same time, the study shows that, with proper coordination, community service can be more than just a formal punishment; it can serve as a tool for social integration and provide tangible support to communities, especially in times of war.
We hope that the findings of this review will serve as a basis for further discussions on improving the community service mechanism, ensuring transparency in its implementation, and strengthening its social function.
The study was conducted as part of a project implemented by the NGO Insight with technical support from UN Women in Ukraine and funding from the UN Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF). WPHF is a flexible and responsive funding instrument that supports high-quality initiatives to strengthen the capacity of local women to prevent conflicts, respond to crises and emergencies, and seize key peacebuilding opportunities.
This material was prepared with financial support from the United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), but this does not imply that the views and content expressed herein are officially endorsed or recognized by the United Nations.
