Meanwhile, the efficacy of incarceration is increasingly being questioned. This is more so because, although one of the fundamental purposes of incarceration is to prevent recidivism by serving as a deterrence to criminals, available evidence suggests that custodial sentences are less successful in preventing recidivism than non-custodial sentences. Community service has been increasingly recognized as a viable tool for restorative justice. lts emergence as a legal sanction in the mid-20th century was influenced by growing dissatisfaction with traditional punitive measures like imprisonment. Overcrowded prisons, high recidivism rates, and the social stigma associated with incarceration motivated courts to consider alternatives that were both rehabilitative and cost-effective.

To effectively tackle over population in custodial centres and the increasing number of Awaiting Trial/Unconvicted persons, Lagos State needed to take a bold step to reduce the proportion of ATPs in these facilities by providing a robust alternative. Consequently, the Ministry of Justice introduced the concept of community service by estabishing the Community Service Unit (CSU) as a way to address the above issues and further incorporated a provision in the revised Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2011 (Section 347), that allows Magistrates and Judges to impose community service sentences on those who commit minor offenses.

This guideline prövides a comprehensive framework for the effective operation of the CSU, with a view to ensuring compliance with legal standards and promoting rehabilitation and community with development in the administration of criminal justice.