Lori Peters — Contributing writer
LAKE COUNTY — In the spirit of helping others, an unconventional way of prosecuting minor criminal infractions has emerged in Lake County.
The Lake County District Attorney”s Office is allowing people who are not from the county to make monetary donations to local nonprofits in lieu of community service.
“We want to be sure our community is paid back for the offense,” District Attorney Don Anderson said.
If a person is mandated by a judge to complete community service, they are allowed to do those community service hours in the town they currently live in. In some cases, those who committed a crime in Lake County may be completing their community service hours outside of Lake County. In those cases, Lake County receives no benefit from those community service hours served.
Anderson conceived the idea that the offender who lives outside the county could provide a monetary sum that would be given to a local charity, in lieu of community service that would not benefit Lake County.
As a prosecutor, Anderson said he likes to see offenders giving something back to Lake County. “It is good for them and it is good for our community,” he said.
According to Anderson, attorneys and their clients have been receptive of the donation idea when it is offered to them. Nonprofit organizations that are classified as 501 (c)(3) charities and reside in Lake County are qualified to receive these donations.
To date, more than $40,000 has been donated to local charities from these efforts, according to Anderson, who said earlier this week he negotiated $2,400 to be given to Hospice Services of Lake County and $1,200 to Highlands Senior Service Center (HSSC) in Clearlake.
“I think this is a positive lesson and helps the offenders understand that their contributions are helping people in a variety of ways,” Anja Koot, interim executive director for Hospice Services of Lake County, said. “Our organization serves our community with end of life care and provides support to their families. Donations of this kind assist us in providing extras that our patients cannot always afford. Hopefully this is a donation a person can feel good about giving.”
Linda Burton, executive director of HSSC, said that not only does the donation help HSSC with its mission to provide meals and services for seniors, it also educates people who may not be aware of the critical need to take care of Lake County seniors. “Highlands Senior Service Center is in need of support to continue its mission. The last few years state funding is trickling. We currently are depending on the community”s support financially.”
Interim Police Chief Craig Clausen of the City of Clearlake said that he fully supports this endeavor. Clausen said he encourages donations to local charities in the community. “This donation might make the person feel good about doing something nice for the community the offense was committed in,” Clausen said.
According to Clausen, “One mistake can be turned into helping our community.” He added that it may actually motivate people to donate frequently of their own free will.
“I think it is a great way to kill two birds with one stone,” Anderson said. “We thought it was a great way to do both ? to help families in need and have justice served at the same time.”
