Since its inception, community service has received a positive reaction from the media, the courts, and the and the public, partly because of its intrinsic value as a sentence, and partly because of its flexibility. The underlying philosophy embraces the concepts of punishment, rehabilitation, and reparation. The Probation Service administers community service. In 1983, 35,100 people commenced community service, only 11 percent of these had no prior convictions, and 5,500 were sentenced by the courts for breaching the requirements of the community service order. For the past 5 years, nearly 75 percent of those receiving community service orders completed the specified number of hours. Most programs try to offer a variety of work to offenders. Manual tasks such as gardening, painting, renovating community halls or churches, or construction are common to most programs. Practical work in the homes of the elderly or handicapped enables offenders to contribute their skills in a more personalized way. Over the last 10 years, females have constituted only about 5 percent of individuals receiving community service orders. Of 55 programs in 1984, 46 included juvenile offenders. Limited data suggest recidivism rates of 38 to 44 percent among those sentenced to community service. Regardless of reconviction rates, such programs are low in cost and are viewed positively by the large majority of offenders. 14 references.