This article argues that more carefully conceived community service interventions could be tailored to meet rehabilitative and reparative objectives which previously brought support and enthusiasm for these sanctions and programs in community corrections. The authors cite a major problem with community service is that it is ordered and implemented in a vacuum with reference neither to sentencing objectives nor to a theory of intervention with offenders. In the absence of a guiding conceptual framework for intervention and lacking value-based guidelines and performance objectives derived from a clear mission, it is impossible to gauge success or failure of these sanctions or determine quality of the service experience. The article argues that "rehabilitated" community service needs to build on and be guided by two emerging alternative conceptual frameworks: restorative justice as a sanctioning focus and competency development as a rehabilitative focus within a "Balanced Approach" to community corrections. The Balanced Approach for probation is explained. A brief background of community service is provided as are community service experiences in different areas of the country. Notes, references