Juvenile probation serves the court by performing presentence investigations, monitoring court probation orders, and interpreting court actions to the community. Probation services to the juvenile client are presentence recommendations for individualized treatment dispositions, assistance to juveniles and their parents in interpreting court processes, and the monitoring of probation services to ensure the client is benefiting. Probation services to the community include a careful assessment of offenders to help ensure dispositions provide adequate community protection and work with the community to develop programs responsive to juvenile problem areas. Some current issues and problems that impact juvenile probation are an increase in violent crimes, which requires appropriately responsive programs; an increase in single-parent homes, which reduces parental supervision of juveniles; and fiscal restraint on probation services. Trends in probation are the increase in victim services, the increased use of the community service order, a resource focus on chronic offenders, and the impact of court decisions on juvenile's rights. Major case decisions are outlined. 3 footnotes.