Philadelphia Community Court

Since February, 2002, extra hands have been helping to clean University City’s sidewalks and vacant areas. But they’re not volunteers: the hands belong to people who have been sentenced to perform community service by the Philadelphia Community Court.

The geographic boundaries for the Court include University City District and the 3rd, 6th, 9th, 17th, and 23rd Police Districts in Center City. If a person is caught committing certain crimes within this area, s/he may be brought to Community Court and sentenced to community service in the area.

The types of offenses adjudicated are retail theft, summary offenses, criminal mischief/vandalism, graffiti, possession of an instrument of crime of graffiti, possession of an instrument of crime, theft from auto, disorderly conduct, theft of services, defiant trespass, possession of drugs or drug paraphernalia, thefts, obstructing the highway/panhandling/ prostitution, and attempt or conspiracy to commit any of these crimes. Hearings at Community Court are expedited usually within 36 hours of arrest. Sentences range from 6 to 30 hours, and drug or behavioral treatment may also be required.

University City District is assigned an average of 40 people per week, according to John Fenton, UCD director of operations. They are assigned to assist the public space maintenance crews, and their tasks include taking down stickers and posters from light poles, sweeping up trash, and removing graffiti. Those who cannot perform physical work due to disabilities are assigned to clerical work (UCD is the only entity working with the Community Court that makes such provisions for those with physical disabilities.) In the first 7 months of Community Court, 4,480 hours of community service (worth more than $23,000) were completed in University City.

Philadelphia Municipal Court and Center City District teamed to create the Court as an alternative to incarceration or probation for quality of life crimes. Because of overcrowding in the city’s prisons, minor crimes usually result in probation which puts the offender back on the street without punishment.

The Philadelphia Community Court is located on the second floor of 1401 Arch Street. The telephone number is 215 683 1570.

Those who have performed community service work (instead of probation or jail), have helped to clean the following areas of University City since March, 2002:

  • 31st St. between Powelton and Spring Garden St.
  • 32nd St. between Powelton and Spring Garden St.
  • 30th St. Post Office
  • Clark Park
  • Cedar Park
  • Rainbow Park
  • Barkan Park
  • 29th St. and JFK Blvd. gateway
  • West Philadelphia High School
  • 40th St. between Market and Walnut sts.
  • Baltimore and Lancaster Ave. commercial corridors
  • Ionic St. btwn. 41st and 46th sts.
  • Market St. btwn. 38th and 45th sts.
  • Walnut St. btwn. 45th and 50th sts.
  • Special projects depending on needs such as leaf removal and tree planting