Community service is used in Spain as an alternative or complementary sentence in domestic violence cases, but not in the most severe cases. Here’s how it fits within the broader legal landscape:

⚖️ Frequency and Use in Domestic Violence Cases:

1. Less Severe Offenses:
   Community service is more frequently imposed in minor domestic violence cases, such as:
   • First-time offenses
   • Cases without serious physical harm
   • Verbal or psychological abuse where the risk is considered lower
2. Part of a Suspended Sentence or Plea Bargain:
   It is often applied alongside other penalties such as:
   • Restraining orders
   • Mandatory therapy or re-education programs
   • Suspended prison sentences (for sentences under 2 years, if the offender has no prior criminal record)
3. Judicial Discretion:
   Judges may choose community service when they believe rehabilitation is appropriate, or when victims prefer the abuser avoid prison—provided the court deems the victim safe.
4. Severe Cases Mean Prison:
   For repeated offenses, physical violence, threats, or violations of protective orders, prison sentences (with or without restraining orders and therapy) are much more common and can be strict under Spain’s strong gender violence laws.

🔍 Statistics & Trends:

• Community service is relatively less common than prison or protective orders.
• Judges increasingly opt for re-education and gender violence programs, particularly in early-stage or “low-risk” cases, which may be paired with community work.
• Spain’s 2015 reform of the Criminal Code aimed to balance punishment with rehabilitation, especially in domestic and gender-based violence, which is why alternative penalties like these are used selectively.