Probation officers are an important source of assistance for battered women. They should provide support and guidance for such women, giving them information that will enable them to choose a strategy for dealing with the abuse. In working with batterers, probation officers should not accept batterers rationalizations for their behavior, should focus on the reasons for the battering, and encourage abusive men to participate in programs designed to help them cease their violent behavior. The top priority should always be the protection of the abused woman. This means probation officers should be familiar with all community services that can benefit battered women. Probation departments should develop detailed written policies and procedures designed to ensure the safety of battered women, hold men accountable for their violence, and reflect the criminal nature of domestic assault. In their role as presentence investigators in wife abuse cases, probation officers should focus on restricting the offender through sentencing so that the victim is safe from further abuse. 9 footnotes.