Opinion ID: 2546738
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Law's Work in 12-Step Program as Community Service

Text: ¶ 35 The last issue before this court is whether Law's volunteer work for Narcotics Anonymous (NA), a 12-step recovery program, may count towards her community service requirement. [19] The parties dispute whether the trial court's allowance is permissible under the SRA. ¶ 36 It is necessary here to distinguish between Law's mere [a]ttendance at NA meetings, see CP 29, and her volunteer work for the program. See CP 22. Community service, since renamed community restitution, is compulsory service, without compensation, performed for the benefit of the community by the offender. Former RCW 9.94A.030(7) (1999), recodified as RCW 9.94A.030(8) (renumbering subsections and renaming community service as community restitution). In order for service to count as community restitution it must directly benefit the community. Any indirect benefit the community receives from an addicted offender receiving treatment is significant, but not the type of direct benefit envisioned by the statute. See former RCW 9.94A.030(7). Therefore, an offender's mere attendance and participation in a 12-step program, is not community service because it does not directly benefit the community. See State v. Hale, 94 Wash.App. 46, 55, 971 P.2d 88 (1999) (the SRA does not grant trial courts authority to credit drug treatment against confinement time or community service). To the extent the trial court's order permitted Law's mere attendance at NA meetings to satisfy her community service requirement it is overruled. ¶ 37 On the other hand, Law asserts that the trial court intended that her work, and not her mere attendance at NA meeting be counted towards her required community service hours. See Pet. for Review at 3 n.2 (This is work over and above mere participation in the program.). Specifically, the record indicates Law provides service to the community when she: (1) helps other women seeking recovery, (2) takes charge of and leads NA meetings, and (3) participates in organizing and setting up NA meetings. RP at 9-12; 19-20. This is work rightfully defined as for the benefit of the community. Former RCW 9.94A.030(7). ¶ 38 In response, the State further asserts that Law impermissibly receives compensat[ion] for her work for NA because she gets a benefit from the program, i.e., the personal improvement of receiving assistance in staying off drugs. Br. of Appellant at 10. The State contends that this benefit is contrary to the language of the statute which indicates that community service must be without compensation. Id. There are two flaws in the State's reasoning. First, the State conflates Law's participation in NA with her volunteer work for the community through the program. Second, the State attempts to deny Law the natural benefits of work and community participation by labeling these benefits compensation. There are many positive aspects of the community restitution program, with benefits undoubtedly flowing to the community and the offender. For instance, an offender may benefit from community restitution when he or she gains job or other life skills, strengthens their work ethic, or is exposed to positive role models through their service work. See generally DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, COMMUNITY SERVICE AND WORK CREWS, available at http://www.doc .wa.gov/CPP/cp p1.htm (last viewed April 19, 2005). Therefore, the State's broad assertion that any benefit to the offender results in impermissible compensation is unreasonable and without merit. [20] ¶ 39 Law's work in support of NA is the type of service envisioned by the SRA. See former RCW 9.94A.030(7). While, according to former RCW 9.94A.030(7) Law's mere attendance at NA meetings is insufficient to satisfy her community service requirement, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in permitting Law's continued work in the NA program to count as community service. In addition, Law does not impermissibly receive compensation for this work. Accordingly, we reverse the Court of Appeals on this issue and now hold that Law's work in a 12-step program qualifies as community service.