Community Service Opportunities
If you have been ordered to complete community service hours as part of your sentence in Hillsborough County, Florida, it is essential to understand the proper procedures to ensure compliance with court requirements. Failing to complete your hours correctly or on time can result in additional penalties, including fines or even further legal consequences.
How To Complete Community Service in Hillsborough County
To complete your court-ordered community service hours in Hillsborough County, start by selecting an approved location from the table above that aligns with your availability and any specific eligibility requirements. Before beginning, you must report to the probation office and pay the required $7.00 insurance fee. Once approved, contact your chosen organization to confirm their volunteer requirements, hours of operation, and any necessary paperwork. Be sure to document your completed hours accurately and obtain proper verification from the organization. Finally, submit your completed documentation to the appropriate probation or court office before your deadline to ensure compliance and avoid any penalties.
How to Complete Court-Ordered Community Service in Hillsborough County
Step 1: Choose an Approved Location and Get ApprovalReview the table below to find an approved community service location that fits your schedule and eligibility requirements. Before starting, report to the probation office to verify your selected site and pay the required $7.00 insurance fee.
Since 2015, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) has managed misdemeanor probation services, previously handled by the Salvation Army.
Locations:
George E. Edgecomb Courthouse: The primary location for administrative functions related to misdemeanor probation.
Former Work Release Center (Orient Road): HCSO has set up additional probation services here, including programs for drug counseling, anger management, and career development.
Plant City Courthouse: Another probation office is located at the Plant City Courthouse for initial intake.
Step 2: Complete Your Service Hours
Contact your chosen organization to confirm volunteer requirements, hours of operation, and any necessary paperwork. Attend your scheduled service, follow all guidelines, and document your hours as instructed.
Step 3: Submit Documentation and Verify Completion
Obtain proper verification of your completed hours from the organization. Submit all required paperwork to the probation or court office before your deadline to ensure compliance and avoid penalties.
Community Service Done!
Completing your court-ordered community service in accordance with the rules offers several key benefits:
Avoiding Legal Consequences – Fulfilling your service hours on time prevents additional penalties, such as fines, extended probation, or even jail time.
Improving Your Legal Standing – Successfully completing community service demonstrates compliance with court orders, which can positively impact future legal proceedings, probation terms, or case outcomes.
Restoring Your Reputation – Community service provides an opportunity to give back to the community, showing responsibility and a willingness to make amends for past actions.
Gaining Valuable Experience – Many community service locations offer skill-building opportunities that can be useful for future employment, networking, or personal growth.
Achieving Peace of Mind – Completing your obligation properly eliminates the stress and uncertainty of unresolved legal issues, allowing you to move forward with your life without lingering court obligations.
As a criminal defense attorney, I help clients navigate this process by ensuring they meet all court-mandated obligations without unnecessary complications. This guide will walk you through the approved community service locations, reporting requirements, and best practices to fulfill your hours efficiently and avoid any legal setbacks.
- Clients must report to the Probation Office first before reporting to any agency.
- A $7.00 insurance fee must be purchased before participation.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
You must register through the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) .
You must work with a pre-approved non-profit organization from the HCSO’s list. The list can be downlosded at the bottom of this page. It is a list of approved agencies. Work performed for unapproved agencies will not count towards the required hours.
You must register through the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) in person. Check eligibility before attempting to register, as not all offenses qualify.
The number of hours is determined by the prosecutor in the case of RIDR or Pretrial Diversion Programs and by the judge at sentencing and is specified in the court order. Carefully review the sentencing documents to know the exact requirement.
You must use the official timesheet provided by the HCSO. The timesheet must be signed by a supervisor at the non-profit organization for each day worked. The answer warns against falsifying timesheets, emphasizing the serious legal consequences (perjury charges). The completed, original timesheet must be submitted to the probation officer (if on probation) or the Department of Corrections.
Failure to complete the hours can result in a Violation of Probation (VOP), leading to potential jail time. This highlights the importance of communicating with the probation officer immediately if facing difficulties in completing the hours. It suggests that proactive communication and demonstrating effort to comply can positively influence the judge’s decision.
Hillsborough County
| City | Organization | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Tampa | Metropolitan Ministries | 2002 N Florida Ave, 33602 |
| Tampa | The Portico Café (Hyde Park United Methodist Church) | 1001 N Florida Ave, 33602 |
| Tampa | The Salvation Army – Tampa Corps | 1603 N Florida Ave, 33602 |
| Tampa | Created Women Thrift Store (Women Only) | 3102 N Nebraska Ave, 33603 |
| Tampa | Meals on Wheels of Tampa | 5320 North Blvd, 33603 |
| Tampa | Ybor City and State Museum | 1818 E 9th Ave, 33605 |
| Tampa | The Education Highway | 2806 N 15th St, 33605 |
| Tampa | Christian Praise and Worship Center | 2605 N 15th St, 33605 |
| Tampa | Timothy Initiative (Men Only) | 3309 North 15th St, 33605 |
| Tampa | The Spring (Thrift Store) | 209 N Willow Ave, 33606 |
| Tampa | Humane Society of Tampa Bay | 3607 N Armenia Ave, 33607 |
| Tampa | City of Tampa Solid Waste | 4010 W Spruce St, 33607 |
| Tampa | New Beginnings of Tampa | 1410 E Chilkoot Ave, 33612 |
| Tampa | A Second Wish by Demetrius (Thrift Store) | 4202 E Busch Blvd Ste 5, 33617 |
| Tampa | Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) | 4801 E Fowler Ave, 33617 |
| Tampa | Carrollwood Cultural Center | 4537 Lowell Rd, 33618 |
| Tampa | Veteran’s Memorial Park | 3602 US Hwy #301, 33619 |
| Tampa | Feeding Tampa Bay (2-4 hours only) | 3624 Causeway Blvd, 33619 |
| Tampa | Hillsborough County Solid Waste | 8001 W Linebaugh Ave, 33625 |
| Tampa | Bakas Equestrian Center | 11510 Whisper Lake Tr, 33625 |
| Brandon | Habitat for Humanity | 501 W Robertson St, 33511 |
| Lutz | Lake Conservation Park | 17302 N Dale Mabry Hwy, 33549 |
| Ruskin | My Warrior’s Place | 101 22nd St NW #112, 33570 |
| Seffner | Fraternal Order of Police – Sheriff’s Lodge 108 | 9001 N Taylor Rd, 33584 |
| Seffner | Hillsborough County Solid Waste | 6209 County Rd #579, 33584 |
| Valrico | Mission of Hope (Tampa Bay) | 212 S St Cloud Ave, 33594 |
| Valrico | A1 Opportunities Inc | 2209 Heritage Crest Dr, 33594 |
Pasco County
| City | Organization | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Dade City | Sunrise of Pasco County | 12724 Smith Rd, 33525 |
| Dade City | A Helping Rock Inc | 1480 7th St, 33525 |
| Port Richey | Pasco County BOCC (Veterans Park) | 14333 Hicks Rd, 34669 |
Pinellas County
| City | Organization | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Clearwater | Homeless Empowerment Program (HEP) | 1120 N Betty Ln, 33755 |
| Dunedin | Sheriffs Ranches Enterprises (Thrift Store) | 2622 Bayshore Blvd, 34698 |
| Gulfport | Gulfport Marina | 2401 53rd St S, 33711 |
| Indian Shores | Seaside Seabird Sanctuary | 18328 Gulf Blvd, 33785 |
| Oldsmar | Oldsmar Cares (Food Pantry) | 149 State Rd 580, 34677 |
| Palm Harbor | Suncoast Primate Sanctuary | 4600 US ALT #19, 34683 |
| Safety Harbor | Philippe Park (Not Active Until 07/02/2024) | 2525 Philippe Pkwy, 34695 |
| St. Petersburg | Keep Pinellas Beautiful Inc | 5090 66th St N, 33709 |
| St. Petersburg | Pet Pal Animal Shelter | 405 22nd St S, 33712 |
| St. Petersburg | Florida Dream Center | 4017 56th Ave N, 33714 |
Goodwill Community Service Locations
| City | Address |
|---|---|
| Tampa | 4102 W Hillsborough Ave, Tampa, FL 33614 |
| Tampa | 1407 U.S. #301, Tampa, FL 33619 |
| Brandon | 1106 E Brandon Blvd, Brandon, FL 33511 |
| Clearwater | 16494 U.S. #19N, Clearwater, FL 33764 |
| Crystal River | 254 N Suncoast Blvd, Crystal River, FL 34429 |
| Lakeland | 5411 S Florida Ave, Lakeland, FL 33813 |
| Largo | 1460 S Missouri Ave, Largo, FL 33700 |
| Oldsmar | 3929 Tampa Rd, Oldsmar, FL 34677 |
| New Port Richey | 11462 State Rd 54, New Port Richey, FL 34655 |
| Plant City | 2802 James Redman Pkwy, Plant City, FL 33566 |
| Riverview | 10739 Big Bend Rd, Riverview, FL 33579 |
| Ruskin | 3050 E College Ave, Ruskin, FL 33570 |
| Sebring | 420 Sebring Square, Sebring, FL 33870 |
| Spring Hill | 4750 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, FL 34606 |
| St. Petersburg | 10596 Gandy Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL 33702 |
| St. Petersburg | 2550 34th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33713 |
| Wesley Chapel | 2390 Willow Oak Dr, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544 |
| Winter Haven | 600 6th St NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881 |
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