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    Did You Know Under the ministry's Violence Reduction Strategy, the Supportive Employment Initiative will help offenders connect with employers as a way to integrate back into the community. Community Operations The Saskatchewan Fine Option/Community Service Order ProgramWhat is the Fine Option Program? The Fine Option Program gives people the opportunity to settle fines by doing unpaid, supervised community service work rather than paying cash. The Program contracts with organizations throughout Saskatchewan known as Fine Option Agencies to deliver the program locally. The Ministry of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing appoints an organization or individual to administer the Fine Option Program in each community. Anyone wishing to work off a fine must register with a Fine Option Agency. The agent assigns suitable community service work and advises the Court of the outcome. Can all Fines be settled through the Fine Option Program? Below is a list of regulations and acts eligible for Fine Option:
Who can register in the Fine Option Program?
*Youths unable to pay Criminal code or other federal fines should be referred to a Youth Worker, the Ministry of Corrections, Public Safety and Policing for their area. Can victim surcharges and late payment fees be settled through the Fine Option Program? Late payment fees and Provincial Victim Fund (PVF) surcharges are eligible for Fine Option. Federal Victim Fund (FVF) surcharges can be paid in cash only, or jail default time must be served. Can out of province fines be worked off? Presently, Saskatchewan has agreements with Alberta and Manitoba to allow some out of province fines to be worked off in Saskatchewan and vice versa. Some Saskatchewan fines can be worked off in Alberta and Manitoba. Contact the Fine Option Co-ordinator for your area to determine if your fine can be settled through this program. Can fines imposed in lieu of forfeiture in drug prosecutions involving proceeds of crime be worked off? As per Sections 462.37(5) and 718.1 of the Criminal Code, fines imposed in lieu of forfeiture in drug prosecutions involving proceeds of crime cannot be worked off. Can corporations or companies settle fines through the Fine Option Program? Fines assessed against a corporation or company cannot be worked off in the Fine Option Program. Can I settle a fine if I’m receiving Worker’s Compensation? Fine Option work is voluntary and does not disrupt Worker’s Compensation benefits. Individuals receiving Worker’s Compensation may work in the Fine Option Program providing a work placement can be arranged to accommodate their disability. A medical note may be required. Can I work in the Fine Option Program while receiving Employment Insurance? Individuals receiving Employment Insurance may be eligible to participate in the Fine Option Program as long as participation does not affect their ability to meet Employment Insurance requirements in terms of seeking employment/being employed. Contact the Fine Option Co-ordinator in your area for more information. How do I register for the Fine Option Program? To register a person must bring at least one of three forms to the Fine Option agent:
I lost my fine letter, what do I do? A person who has lost this letter should contact the Provincial Court where the original letter was received to obtain a duplicate copy or call the Provincial Court hotline toll free at 1-800-661-2024 How long do I have to register? You can register with the Fine Option Program up to seven days before the default date stated on the Notice of Conviction, Letter of Unpaid Fines or Notice of Fine. Can someone else work off my fine? No. The person who received the fine must complete the work. Can I pay off part of my fine? You can settle a fine with some work and some money if you wish. Payments can be made by cash, debit, MasterCard, or Visa to the Court at any time. The agent cannot accept payments. How many hours do I have to work? To determine how many hours you have to work, divide the fine amount and the applicable provincial or PVF surcharges by the current minimum hourly wage. For example, a $55.00 fine and a $15.00 provincial surcharge, divided by the $7.55 minimum wage, equals 9 hours of community service to be worked. I worked off my fine, but the court records don’t have it recorded. What do I do? If you have worked off a fine and the court records still show that it is owing, contact the Fine Option Agency that you registered with to ensure the records were sent to the court, or call the Fine Option Co-ordinator for your area. How do I become a Fine Option Agency? Non-profit organizations/agencies and local/municipal governments (includes Indian Bands) are eligible as a Fine Option Agency. To apply as a Fine Option Agency, contact the local program co-ordinator in your area.
How do I become a work placement? If you are a non-profit organization, you may contact a local agent/agency if you wish to become a recipient of community service work. Please enter your postal code here to locate the nearest agency in your area or call (306) 787-3333 for the name of the Fine Option Co-ordinator for your area. What is the Community Service Order Program? The Community Service Order Program offers the Court an alternative sanction to incarceration (or some other penalty). Adults and youths to be placed either on a probation order or a conditional sentence that requires them to perform a specific number of hours of community service work for approved local governments, First Nations or non-profit organizations:
Who is eligible for the Community Service Order Program? Any offender who has been sentenced by the court to perform community service work as a condition of his/her conditional sentence or probation order is eligible for the program. The court, often with the assistance of a pre-sentence report or a community service order report, may consider the following factors:
What kinds of work might I be required to do? Below is a chart that identifies possible work placements, acceptable tasks and unacceptable work tasks:
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