NEW DELHI, June 22 -- The Delhi government will seek community service as punishment for first-time offenders in cases of petty crimes starting next month, officials aware of the matter said, attributing the decision to treating criminal justice as being reformative and not punitive. The community service mandates will range from sanitation work to supporting public welfare activities, and these have been recognised as valid punishments for minor crimes, officials said.Till now, community service sentences would be handed down at the discretion of the courts. With the new policy, this change is likely to be adopted by the prosecution. "Beginning July 2024, the new policy will be applicable across Delhi courts. The initiative targets infract...