Probation officers were drawn into acts of protest by an organizational environment that discouraged upward communication. An important research finding was that in deciding to act, probation officers were not significantly influenced by their perceptions of effectiveness. The insights developed in this study are important for understanding the whistleblowing process and the organizational climate found in probation departments. The latter is particularly salient in view of a recent Rand report, which indicated that probation in California has been unsuccessful in reducing recidivism by felony offenders. (Author abstract)